Catholic Charities program serving the hungry in Baltimore since 1981

Media Contact: Rena Daly rdaly@cc-md.org

18 Feb 16 12:00 AM CST

Baltimore – The Maryland General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Feb. 2 recognizing Our Daily Bread Employment Center for 35 years of continuous service to Baltimoreans affected by poverty and food insecurity.

The resolution was introduced in the House of Delegates by Delegate Peter A. Hammen and in the Senate by State Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden, both of whom represent Baltimore City in the General Assembly.

Catholic Charities’ Executive Director Bill McCarthy, Our Daily Bread Employment Center Director Penny Lewis and longtime volunteer Bill Forand accepted the citations from House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller.

The resolution offered “our sincerest congratulations to Our Daily Bread Employment Center in recognition of celebrating its 35th Anniversary.”

Our Daily Bread Employment Center first opened its doors in 1981, and on June 1 will mark 35 years of providing meals, case management and other essential services. Our Daily Bread has never missed a day serving meals, despite blizzards, hurricanes or other disruptive events.

“We are truly honored by the resolutions recognizing Our Daily Bread Employment Center’s 35 years – 12,760 consecutive days – of feeding the hungry of Baltimore. During this period, amazingly dedicated colleagues and tens of thousands of volunteers served more than seven million meals to our neighbors who were hungry,” said Bill McCarthy, executive director of Catholic Charities. “We are also grateful to Delegate Hammen and Senator McFadden for introducing the resolutions and bringing attention not only to the wonderful work that happens every day inside Our Daily Bread but also the great need that exists in our city and state.”

About Our Daily Bread Employment Center

Our Daily Bread Employment Center provides daily hot meals to more than 700 individuals, as well as case management services, job training and employment counseling. On June 1, 2016, Our Daily Bread Employment Center will mark 35 years of service.

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 cc-md-old.vitamindesign.com.

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