Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Melbourne, FL 32901
Permit No. 239
815 E. Fee Avenue
Melbourne, FL 32901
Daily Bread
News and Views from our main campus, FOOD warehouse and Thrift SHOP
AUG / SEP 2015
CALENDAR
1 JUN – 27 AUG
USDA “FEDS FEED
FAMILIES” FOOD
DRIVE
Got a few free hours?
Why not volunteer them at the
Daily Bread Thrift Shop!
Call 321-676-2900.
IN THIS ISSUE...
WHAT ALL DOES DAILY BREAD DO? See page 3
HOPE & FUTURE
SUCCESS STORY
(p. 1)
KITCHEN CREW
“SPOTLIGHT”
(p. 2)
From The Executive Director . . .
Every year from April 10th to June 15th we conduct a census of those people who come to Daily Bread
during that time by enlisting volunteers and staff members who interview every person. Census takers were
our volunteer greeters: Eleanor Amicucci, Char Armenti, Elaine Heine, Ruby Jenkins, Anne Kendall, Ann
Landis, Pat Seitz, Fran Smith, Conie Steinhorst, and
Peggy Terrano. We sincerely thank each of you for
your extra volunteer time and effort!
In past years we interviewed as few as 320 people
and as many as 1,370. This year we interviewed
812 people—17.4% of the individuals who came to
Daily Bread in the year prior to April 10, 2015. We
are still compiling results, but here are some from
this year and last. We are finally seeing a decrease
in the number of people who come for a meal. Also,
the percentage of homeless is declining, those with
jobs increasing, and the median age is higher. This
good news is due in part to our efforts over the last
2½ years helping clients obtain steady jobs and get
back into homes.
Your support as volunteers, your talents in assisting wherever needed, and your donations are making a
difference in the lives of the poor, hungry, and homeless people we serve. Thank you!
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ANNUAL CENSUS
RESULTS
(p. 4)
oUR VISION
& mISSION
Daily Bread’s vision is
to ensure everyone has
access to the food and
services necessary to
become self-sufficient.
Daily Bread’s mission
is to improve the dignity
and quality of life of
the hungry and needy
we serve. We do this
by offering a daily
free meal at our soup
kitchen, supplying food
to local agencies for
redistribution to the
needy and providing
hygienic and social
services, in collaboration
with partners.
TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE
Christina Bradley came from a lot of drugs and alcohol. “I hung out with the wrong crowd,
and didn’t have a Godly influence in my life. I believed in God but didn’t know who he was.”
After she had her son, she knew she couldn’t live that life anymore. But because she could
not care for him, Christina gave her son to his grandparents, and she continued to live on the
streets.
Christina first came to Daily Bread to eat when she had no place
to stay. In March 2012, she asked John Farrell for help. John took
her to Trinity Rescue Mission in Jacksonville, Florida, where she
entered their 90-day Lifeline Program for women, designed to
break debilitating cycles. But after 4 months Christina dropped
out. “I was still trying to do things my way. I didn’t know how
to deal with things other than to use drugs, run away, and not deal
with them.” Now on the streets of Jacksonville, a year or so later
she found herself in jail. “I came out of jail and decided to go back
into the program at Trinity. I thought I needed a program. What I
really needed was God, I just didn’t know it.” Still wanting to do
things her own way, after 3 or 4 months she again left the program,
relapsed, and the cycle repeated itself. Over time, she eventually ended up in jail once again.
Then on January 19th this year, Brother Barry from Trinity visited her in jail and told her,
“You need God in your life or you will die on the streets.” He offered to bring her back into
the program, but only if she would commit to seeing it through—she accepted. “I knew there
was no successful end to this life, and my way was not the best.” Since fully committing to the
program, everything has changed. “God has opened all kinds of doors! I’m taking classes 4
days a week through Florida State College at Jacksonville working toward my GED, helping
Trinity supervisors by working the desk to check in overnighters, serving at the mission, and
running the clothing closet there to help clothe ladies in need. I put all my effort into it.”
In June, after so many years away, Christina got to come to Melbourne and spend a full day
with her son, Cameron, now 6 years old. “I’m staying committed to his life. I also know God is
calling me to work with people with addictions, but I don’t yet know exactly how.” Christina’s
counselor at Trinity knows of other programs in Jacksonville that minister to people on the
streets where she may be able to do Human Services related work. “John Farrell has a door
open for me, when I’m ready. He offered for me to come and help him help others in need.”
Not yet completed with the program at Trinity, Christina is staying the course. “Right now
I’m focused on getting my GED. I’m trying to do what God wants me to do, not what I want
to do.” She goes to Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville every Sunday, and participates in
many church activities every day of the week. About Daily Bread, Christina said, “There
aren’t that many homeless shelters in Brevard County. John Farrell is helping people get into
homes. Daily Bread is doing wonderful things.”
. . . Coming October 17th!
Details in “EVENTS” at www.dailybreadinc.org
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CONTACT
LIST
(E-mail Staff at
[email protected])
Executive Director
John E. Farrell....................723-1060
Operations Director
Joe Gassman.......................723-1060
Social Services Manager
Linda Meyer.......................723-1060
Development Director
Janet Price..........................723-1060
Food Bank Warehouse Director
Greg LaVanture..................953-8000
Thrift Shop Director
Arlene Naulty.....................676-2900
Food Rescue Coordinators
South and Central Zones
Angelo Paone................H: 723-1675
North Zone
Greg LaVanture..................953-8000
Cutters Coordinator
Lois Chatfield.....................724-2053
Greeters Coordinator
Pat Seitz.............................723-5789
Newsletter
Editor............................... Larry Sills
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers:
Tim Jelus, President
Ed Wickey, Vice President
Bonnie Armstrong, Treasurer
Rick Broderick, Secretary
Members:
Van Banks
Cathy Clarke
Mike Erdman
Andrew Evans
John Farrell, ex officio
Dr. Edwin Hayes
Roger Kendall
Mark LaRusso
Bob Moletteire
Juliette Mondesir-Adams
Tim Muth
Bruce Waters
Deborah Yesowitch
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SOCIAL SERVICES: GIVING IS RECEIVING
Alternative Spring Break. Through the University of Tampa’s Alternative
Breaks Program, students spend part of their vacations in service of others. During
Spring Break this April, 28 Spartan students chose to spend 3 days serving in our
kitchen and hygiene center. Some are Sociology majors who said they had never
been so close to what they were studying, and were really touched by what Daily
Bread is doing. Their experience also inspired them to look into similar local
community services back in Tampa. They enjoyed the experience so much that
they intend to come back during their Winter Break!
Day Jobs for Clients. AT&T contacted Daily Bread’s asking for client
volunteers to distribute doorknob information placards to homes of local AT&T
customers. AT&T would provide the transportation, but required each volunteer
have a current, state-authorized photo ID. Our new Social Services Manager,
Linda Meyer, arranged for 67 clients to work for 4 days in May, 12-hours each
day, distributing the placards in various neighborhoods. Not only that, when the
AT&T representative said he would pay them minimum wage, Linda negotiated
for more and got $10 an hour plus overtime! Altogether AT&T paid out a grand
total of $11,000 to participants. This opportunity was such a morale boost that
our clients are eager for more. So much so that many more clients are now asking
to get their Florida Photo IDs.
Community Service Learning Award. Eastern Florida State College (EFSC)
requires students earn school credits for community service for their degree
programs. Daily Bread routinely hosts many EFSC students to earn these credits.
As a result, Daily Bread recently received EFSC’s Community Service Learning
Award for outstanding service and contribution to the community.
KITCHEN SPOTLIGHT: THE MOTLEY CREW
Connie Ulrich was one of the original volunteers at Daily Bread when the facility
first opened on New Haven Avenue in 1988. Later she became the team leader for
the every-Monday food serving crew. Years later, Daily Bread’s leadership asked
that serving teams create a name for themselves. Because our members came from
several different walks of “affiliated” life (religious affiliations, organizations,
etc.), Connie suggested
the name “Motley Crew.”
Since the dictionary
defines “motley” as “a
mixture of incongruous
elements,” we all agreed
it was most suitable!
Since then Connie has
gone to be with the L to R: Joe McHugh, Shany & Buddy Balwant, Bob Perez, and Carol
Gent. Not present: Hugh Nicolay and Evelyn Darbasie.
angels, but her legacy of
service continues. Our crew serves on the first and second Mondays of the month,
and also whenever there is a fifth Monday. While we are a ‘motley crew’ in
some ways, we are also unified in our aim to serve our clients joyfully. We have
‘regular’ crew members, plus others that support us now and then. If you have a
heart for serving, we invite you to join us—more help is always welcome!
30 MAY GOLF TOURNEY FUNDRAISER
A slight (30-minute) rain delay then
clear skies, and around 70 players
took to the course. Mid-afternoon,
Dwight from Florida Bi-Planes landed
on the 9th hole, picked up Kay Ives,
Erin Russell, and 500 golf balls for
the “Chopper Dropper” event. The
balls rained down and the winning ball
(#485) came to rest about an eighth of
an inch from the pole! Afterwards, we
shared a wonderful lunch, announced
the tournament winners, and hosted a
Silent Auction. The best news is that we
exceeded our
fundraising
goal—our
sincerest
thanks to all
our sponsors
and everyone
w
h
o
participated!
THIS ‘N
THAT
LETTER CARRIERS
FOOD DRIVE 2015!
The Letter Carriers Food
Drive on May 9th netted
almost 71 million pounds
nationwide! Thanks to the
generosity of our great
local community, Daily
Bread Food Warehouse
received 217,000 pounds 5,000 more than last year.
These foods support Daily
Bread and our many church
partners’ food pantries.
WHAT ALL DOES DAILY BREAD DO?
More than you know! Daily Bread is well known for providing a hot meal every
day to the poor, the hungry, and the homeless in our community. But there are
lots of other services available to clients through the new Buescher Outreach
Center, right next to the dining facility. More than a dozen local social agencies
and programs have volunteered their services to help clients become more selfsufficient—and the list of partnering agencies is growing!
Clients who come to eat can be also be “fed” with
helpful information and services. The Outreach
Center provides hygiene services (showers,
toiletries, clean clothes), mail service, a
public telephone, and meeting rooms. This
pie chart shows the percentage of clients from
January through June 2015 who used each
type of service. Going clockwise starting
with 13% at the top: Brevard Health Alliance;
Certification of Status (birth certs, SS cards,
etc.); Professional Counseling; Employment
(daily work, job referrals); Florida ID; Food
Stamps; Haircuts; HIV Testing; and Housing. The rest of the pie (8% through
11%) are such things as prescriptions, Safelink (free cell phones), personal items,
prayer, and many other types of assistance.
For more information, and to schedule a Daily Bread representative presentation
for your organization or church, contact John Farrell at 321-723-1060 or john@
dailybreadinc.org.
An Army of volunteers
sorted the food picked up
by postal workers into
280 large grove boxes.
These were brought to the
Warehouse in trucks (with
drivers) donated by a host
of local companies!
Volunteer
Warehouse
Day Managers Needed
Mondays & Fridays, 7am
to 12 Noon. Mornings are
very busy with incoming
donations, getting food to
the Daily Bread Kitchen,
and providing church
partners their allocations.
Why not lend us a hand?
Contact Greg LaVenture
for details (321-2988171).
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