We started Breaking Bread as a new ministry to celebrate St. Lawrence's 175th anniversary as a parish. We have served breakfast to those in our community who want/need it every Saturday since February of 2016 - even through the pandemic. During that time, we handed out meals in bags. 

 

We have between 5 and 30 people from the area arrive at 8AM on Saturdays and we are finished by 9 (clean up sometimes takes until 9:15). The hard part is we never know how many will come! Lately we have averaged about 10. We require no proof of need - we are all about community and giving people a place to be where they feel important and connected. This seems to be more scarce even than food. Most of our guests live alone and walk to be with us each week. When we have too much food (due to fluctuating attendance) we send care packages home with those who attend. 

 

We have a minimum of 3 people cook each week. Some teams are much bigger - like the school groups. The teams bring enough of the following to feed 15-20 people (our cooks often eat after the guests are through the line): 

• eggs (sometimes casseroles prepared before hand, often accompanied by freshly prepared scrambled eggs). We ask that this be the main course. 

• Fruit (bananas, tangerines, and grapes are the favorites. Many don't have teeth so apples are a no go).

• Bacon, sausage... Meat of some kind

• Baked goods (they love these, but most guests have diabetes so we try to downplay sweets). When the kids come they often bring mix and make pancakes. We have a waffle iron and those are fun too.

• Juice and milk (they love apple and orange juice, regular and chocolate milk)

Justin Stearns brings biscuits and gravy every week. We have coffee, creamer and sugar, plates, napkins, utensils...there. 

 

At Christmas we have gifts for guests and try to make the meal a bit more fancy. Once we tried Eggs Benedict - they did NOT like it! 

 

We are always happy to have more guests. We publicize this through the library, other meal programs in town (High Hopes Cafe at Hamline Chapel, for example), the North Dearborn Food Pantry and Clearinghouse. We welcome anyone sending the word out to folks they think would benefit from joining us! 

 

Either Justin Stearns, Jon Rolfes, Penny Edwards or me (Eileen Keller) are there every week. Often we are all there. We unlock and show new folks how things work. Everyone is welcome and well taken care of. We ask that the 'cooks and servers' interact with our guests. As I mentioned before, the sense of community, belongingness and making folks who are often marginalized, feel important - is our mission.

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Want to participate? Please stop down any Saturday morning between 8-9 am. We would love to meet you and show you around. We can decide at that time how much involvement interests you and figure out how to get you included. If you would rather call before visiting, feel free to call Eileen Keller at 812-655-3304.