An Important Message from Break Bread

For eight incredible years, Break Bread was more than a meal program—it was a community where dignity, friendship, and genuine connection transformed lives. From 2017 to 2025, we served over 150,000 meals through community sit-down dinners and hot to-go meals for our most vulnerable neighbors.

But the real magic wasn't just in the food. It was in the birthdays celebrated for people who thought no one would remember. It was in the strangers who became best friends over shared plates. It was in the space we created where everyone belonged, where every story mattered, and where people found acceptance without judgment and friendship without conditions.

Over 20,000 volunteer hours were given by people who showed up week after week to prove that caring for one another is what builds real community. We watched lives change, relationships flourish, and a beautiful truth emerge: when people break bread together, magic happens.

In October 2025, Break Bread made the difficult decision to pause programming after careful evaluation of our organizational sustainability. The reality we faced was multifaceted and significant.

The financial impact of the past year had been substantial. The space we had been using was no longer going to be a viable option for our future. The East Kitchen project—critical to our long-term sustainability—had not gotten off the ground as quickly as we would have liked. And operational systems that had worked for us previously were no longer functioning the way we needed them to.

We found ourselves at a crossroads: we could continue operating in a crisis cycle, struggling to keep up with immediate needs without addressing underlying sustainability issues, or we could make a different choice.

Rather than give up entirely or continue pushing forward unsustainably, we made the conscious decision to pause. This pause allows us to focus on shoring up operational processes and resource development while reimagining what it would take to continue feeding our community Break Bread meals in a way that's truly sustainable for the long term.

But pausing doesn't mean stopping forever.

We believe the Break Bread magic—the community, the connections, the dignity we created together—is too important to let go. We're spending the next several months focusing on organizational and resource development to build a stronger, more sustainable foundation.

Our goal is to relaunch programming in 2026, bringing back the community meals that changed so many lives. But to make this happen, we need to do things differently. We need a stronger volunteer base, visionary leadership, sustainable funding sources, and upgraded facilities that will allow Break Bread to thrive for years to come.

We can't do this alone. We need you.

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This pause isn't passive—we're actively building the foundation for Break Bread's future. Here's what's happening behind the scenes:

East Kitchen Progress: We've renewed conversations with partners who can help make the East Kitchen remodel a reality. This critical project is moving forward with fresh energy and new possibilities.

Organizational Strengthening: We're working with a consultant to guide us through organizational processes and resource development that will take us into our next chapter with clarity and sustainability.

Community Partnerships: We're building stronger partnerships within our community to help share the burden of feeding our neighbors and cut operational costs. A great example? St. Andrew is providing a Thanksgiving meal for our community this year, showing how collaborative efforts can extend our impact.

Leadership & Volunteer Base: We're actively working to shore up our board and volunteer base to help alleviate the strain that fell too heavily on our small staff team. By building a broader foundation of support, we're creating something more sustainable and resilient.

The goal? To create an unbreakable foundation that will allow Break Bread to serve our community for many years to come—not just survive, but truly thrive.

This work takes time, resources, and people who believe in the mission. That's where you come in.

The heart of Break Bread has always been our volunteers—people who showed up consistently to serve meals, build relationships, and create a welcoming space for everyone. Whether you can commit to weekly shifts or occasional support, your time and presence make all the difference.

What volunteers do:

• Prepare and serve meals with warmth and dignity
• Create a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels valued
• Build genuine relationships with community members
• Help with setup, cleanup, and logistics
• Share the Break Bread spirit of unconditional care

VOLUNTEER 

We're seeking passionate, committed individuals to help lead Break Bread into its next chapter. Our board members will play a crucial role in strategic planning, fundraising, community partnerships, and ensuring we build a sustainable organization that can serve our community for years to come.

What we're looking for:

• Strategic thinkers who can help shape our future
• People with expertise in nonprofit management, fundraising, community development, or related fields
• Individuals who share our commitment to dignity, friendship, and community
• Leaders willing to dedicate time and energy to Break Bread's mission
• Diverse perspectives that reflect the community we serve

BOARD INTEREST FORM

Your donations during this period of reorganization will directly support the administrative costs of rebuilding Break Bread and provide the necessary seed money for launching meal distribution. Every contribution helps us:

• Develop sustainable operational systems
• Build community partnerships
• Plan for program relaunch
• Create the infrastructure needed for long-term success

Donate today and be part of bringing back the place where strangers became family.

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A key component to Break Bread's successful relaunch is the remodel of our East Kitchen facility. This project requires significant capital funding as well as help with logistics and project management.

We need:

• Capital funding for kitchen renovation
• Project management expertise
• Construction/renovation skills and connections
• In-kind donations of materials or services

If you have experience in construction, project management, or access to capital funding sources, your involvement could be transformational for our relaunch.

Know someone who would be passionate about Break Bread's mission? Share our story with your networks—you never know who might have a connection or resource that could help. The more people who know about our plans to relaunch, the stronger our community will be when we return.

If you know of an organization that would like to help us feed the community—either during this interim period or once operations relaunch—please have them reach out.

CONTACT US

Picture this: It's 2026, and Break Bread's doors are open again. The tables are full of neighbors—some familiar faces, some new friends. Volunteers are serving meals with warm smiles, cooked in our newly renovated East Kitchen. Laughter fills the air. Birthdays are being celebrated. Stories are being shared. Strangers are becoming family.

This is what we're working toward. This is what you can help us rebuild.

The Break Bread magic happened because people like you chose to show up, to care, and to believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table.

Will you join us in feeding our neighbors again?

DONATE  

CONTACT US             

VOLUNTEER  

BOARD INTEREST FORM

During this period of reorganization, all donations support the administrative costs of rebuilding Break Bread and provide the essential seed money needed to relaunch our community meal programming.