This story is one of several in Sioux Falls Simplified's annual 'A Little Help' give-back campaign. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to support Bread Break. You can donate here, and, if you wanna support two cool things in one, we're donating a portion of new subscriber revenue as well.
Simplified: Nearly 3,000 people came to Church on the Street's food pantry last month, and the amount of food given away has nearly doubled in the last couple of years, Deacon Mara Stillson said. Without Bread Break's help in rescuing that food – that would otherwise have gone to waste – Church on the Street likely wouldn't be able to run its food pantry at all, Stillson said.
Why it matters
- Bread Break fills gaps in Sioux Falls' food security scene by rescuing food that may otherwise get thrown away and delivering it to nonprofit partners who can make good use of it.
- By having the infrastructure to deliver the food from where it isn't needed to where it is needed, Bread Break makes food giveaways like Church on the Street's possible. In total, Bread Break brings food to more than 45 receiving partners – including several food pantries and churches, as well as nonprofits who serve unhoused folks like the Union Gospel Mission, the St. Francis House, Glory House, Safe Home and The Banquet.
- Stillson said she thinks some take for granted the work Bread Break does because it makes so much sense why they do what they do, but it's important to remember this doesn't necessarily exist in other communities.
"I can't imagine what would happen if all that food was being wasted ... and if all these other partners didn't have access to the food they distribute," Stillson said. "That's just the nonprofit world – caring for one another and making sure that we share what we have. Because, there's an abundance of stuff – it's just (a matter of) getting it into the hands of the people who need it."
Tell me more
Church on the Street gets regular deliveries from Bread Break – including weekly donations from Little Caesar's pizza, as well as produce, snacks, sandwiches, bread, yogurt, donuts from other providing partners.
Having those food donations allows Stillson and her colleagues at Church on the Street to focus their budget on other essential supplies to support the unhoused community.
"We struggle to be able to meet the needs of the people we have – providing the items that we try and help out with," Stillson said. "Our budget line items of supplies to members has blown through the roof. If we didn't have Bread Break also supplementing that, we wouldn't be able to do it. We would have to close the pantry."
How can I support Bread Break?
Volunteer: The best way to sign up is to fill out this form on the Bread Break website.
Donate: You can support Bread Break through the 'A Little Help' give-back campaign following the link below:
Tell me more about Bread Break
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
