Our Daily Bread Marks 35 Years of Service to Baltimoreans on June 1

Catholic Charities Program has served more than 7.4 million meals since 1981

18 May 16 12:00 AM CDT

Our Daily Bread, a program of Catholic Charities of Baltimore that provides meals and other crucial services, will commemorate 35 years – 12,785 consecutive days – of service to Baltimoreans in need on June 1.

An interfaith prayer service will be held on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to mark the occasion. Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori will preside over the prayer service, which will also include Rabbi Andrew Busch of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Imam Earl El-Amin of the Muslim Community Cultural Center, the Rev. James Green of New Psalmist Baptist Church, the Rev. Alvin Hathaway of Union Baptist Church and Sr. Kathleen Feeley, SSND, the president emerita of Notre Dame University of Maryland.

Since first opening its doors in 1981 Our Daily Bread has served more than 7.4 million meals, and currently serves nearly 700 meals each day, seven days a week, and has never missed a day serving meals in spite of blizzards, hurricanes or other events.

The casseroles served at ODB are donated by groups from area churches, civic associations and by individuals. Approximately 90 casseroles are served each day, prepared and served to the guests by 35 or more volunteers. On the June 1 anniversary date, guests at Our Daily Bread will be served a special meal of pizza, salad, watermelon and cake to mark the event.

Pope St. John Paul II visited Our Daily Bread during his 1995 visit to Baltimore and ate a typical casserole meal with other guests.

Our Daily Bread first opened at the corner of Park Ave. and Franklin St. and in 1991 relocated to what is now the site of My Sister’s Place Women’s Center at 17 W. Franklin

St. In 2007 the center moved to its current location at 725 Fallsway. The program was renamed Our Daily Bread Employment Center, reflecting increased case management, job training and employment counseling services.

In the last year, nearly 250,000 meals were served at Our Daily Bread. Additionally, 205 clients were placed in jobs, 180 found permanent or transitional housing and nearly 4,000 people received case management, intake or emergency services.

“For 35 years Our Daily Bread has been a lifeline to people in Baltimore who are affected by poverty and homelessness,” said Bill McCarthy, executive director of Catholic Charities of Baltimore. “Every day our colleagues and dedicated groups of volunteers serve meals and provide hope to our brothers and sisters in need, treating each guest with respect and dignity. Our Daily Bread could not fulfill its mission without the amazing and ongoing support of parishes, corporations and generous individuals throughout the Baltimore area, and we are truly grateful.”

About Catholic Charities of Baltimore

Catholic Charities of Baltimore is Maryland’s largest private provider of human services, offering assistance to children and families, people living in poverty, individuals with intellectual disabilities, immigrants and seniors without regard to religion, race or other circumstances.

Inspired by the Gospel mandates to love, serve and teach, the more than 80 programs of Catholic Charities improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of Marylanders each year. It continues a legacy of charity and compassion that began with the establishment of the Catholic Church in Baltimore in 1792. Catholic Charities was named a 2015 Baltimore Sun Top Workplace, ranked among the top 10 largest employers in the Baltimore region. For more information, please visit www.cc-md.org.

Catholic Charities of Baltimore has experts available to discuss a wide variety of topics, including poverty, homelessness, mental health, intellectual disabilities, immigration and issues related to aging.

More information about Our Daily Bread Employment Center.