Established in 1980, the Bread of Life organization “is a nonprofit, non-denominational, faith-based food security organization based in Malden, MA, that provides over 1.5 million pounds of free food a year for economically struggling and disadvantaged families, individuals, youth and senior citizens,” stated Patty Kelly, development director at Bread of Life.
Bread of Life’s primary service is to prepare various meals and deliver them to mobility-impaired seniors, disabled individuals, families in shelters, and the homeless. The institution gathers many volunteers from the Malden community and several partner organizations to work together to pack and distribute food to the needy. Students from local schools, including Malden High, come to Bread of Life to work towards a common goal: “Feed the hungry, the homeless, the needy, and the isolated,” Kelly remarked.
“When I volunteer, I usually work with friends. We make sure that everything is included and organized, then we stack them to prepare for shipping,” commented Nora Donahegy, a sophomore from Malden High.
“I think Bread of Life is a great establishment,” exclaimed sophomore Keira Celicourt. “It’s full of very lovely people and workers. I enjoy volunteering there.”
Bread of Life provides for residents of many cities, including Malden, Stoneham, Medford, Everett, Revere, Chelsea, and Saugus. It has supplied families with over one million free meals a year and is a part of the top ten percent of food buyers and distributors in the Greater Boston Food Bank. “When it comes to being a food bank, they are a staple in our community,” stated Daniel Xie, a freshman from Mystic Valley Charter School.
The hard work that workers and volunteers put into Bread of Life is what has given the organization life for over four decades. “The staff at the Bread of Life take their work very seriously. They put great consideration and take pride in the work they do,” Xie observed.
The organization is driven by the belief that every human has the right to food, regardless of race, age, ethnicity, or gender. It is a place within our community where people can congregate and connect while doing good deeds for those in need who are unable to provide for themselves.
“Bread of Life is important to the community because not only does it help others, but people in the community are able to come together and meet one another,” concluded Serena Lama, a sophomore from Malden Catholic High School.
