Tara Vocino for the Malden Advocate
Bread of Life will soon have everything under one roof in their new three-story building, located at 54 Eastern Ave., Malden, allowing for the expansion of their services with approximately 20,000 square feet. They will be moving out of the existing building at 109 Madison St.
Taking Bread of Life to this next step, financial help came in the form of money from charitable organizations, private donors, families, businesses, trusts and grant money. MassDevelopment issued a $1,660,000 tax-exempt bond. Eastern Bank purchased the bond, which helped Bread of Life achieve a lower cost of capital.
“Our new facility will let us provide more food for more people and launch new programs,” Bread of Life Executive Director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack said. “The project will bring all BOL programs under one roof — food pantries, evening meals program, school nutrition backpack program in Everett, motel shelter food provision, grocery delivery and food access — along with our offices and a multi-purpose hall for expanded programs.”
Stelmack said that as part of the Under One Roof campaign the project provides 14 affordable studio apartments owned and operated by Metro North Housing Corporation to provide permanent housing for very low-income formerly homeless individuals. The upgraded building is slated to open this spring at 54 Eastern Ave., across from Cataldo Ambulance, parallel to the bicycle path.
“Hunger will always be an issue,” Bread of Life Development Director Patty Kelly said. “We served approximately 1 million meals in 2023.”
That large demands mean hundreds of volunteers are needed in 2024, especially delivering groceries between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays/Thursdays, and on Tuesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. A car that can fit 10 to 15 boxes of food plus a buddy is preferred, according to Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Mullen. To volunteer, email Eileen.Mullen@BreadOfLifeMalden.org. Some volunteers also receive food.
“We need lots of volunteers daily, but especially on Tuesdays, we need about 15 people to pack groceries, and on Wednesdays for food distribution from noon to 5 p.m.,” Mullen said. “We also have a Lafayette School mobile market in Everett on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m.”
Mullen said a bond forms when volunteers come together with the same mission.
Mayor Gary Christenson said food insecurity remains one of the top issues that Malden faces as a city. “This new building will help the Bread of Life further the great job they have done responding to this challenge,” Christenson said. “It will also support the ability for more volunteer opportunities, which are a good way to get involved and make a difference.”
Meals are also provided Tuesdays to Fridays at First Baptist Church on Main Street.
Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese translators are also needed.
Kelly said April’s ribbon cutting will welcome people into the building, and volunteers will be on-site to tour the new space and second level apartments.
With the transformed space comes a shift in the way that production is done. “Instead of being handed bags of food, clients will soon be able to walk the space to choose what food they want,” Mullen said. “We’ll give out approximately 30 pounds of food.”
That volume of food also means that donations are greatly needed. To donate, personal checks are accepted, or visit @BreadOfLifeMalden on Venmo or visit BreadOfLifeMalden.org. For a substantial donation, there are naming opportunities available.
“Office spaces, and landscaping can be named in honor of someone for a significant contribution,” Kelly said. “For instance, the kitchen will be named Encore Boston Harbor Kitchen for their generous donation."
The pantry does fundraisers, including their signature walk on Oct. 6 at Pine Banks Park. Late Executive Director Tom Feagley’s oil pastel paintings will be available for sale. A comedy night at Prince Pizzeria in Saugus is annually in the fall.
Their motto is “Food for the body… Nurture for the soul.”
Shown from left to right: Marie Ai; Martine Orneas; Calvin Walker; Marcia Manong; Karen Lynch; Anson Kwong; Danielle Velasquez; Jeff Adams; Melissa Yee (kneeling, left of banner); Butch Parry; Ann Carriere; Gabriella Snyder Stelmack; Patty Kelly; Annamaria Georgopoulos; Cathy; Eileen Mullen; Bernadette Mutebi (kneeling, right of banner); Judy Duggan; Perry; Chris Chitouras; Terry Caton and Kathy McKenna. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino)
Annamaria Georgopoulos (at right) and Terry Caton at Monday’s Bread of Life Holiday Party
BOL Volunteer Coordinator Eileen Mullen (at left) and Development Director Patty Kelly are shown at the Post-Holiday Party to ring in the New Year for volunteers and staff at Bread of Life on Monday.
Shown at the table from left to right: Seated: Calvin Walker, Jeff Adams, Danielle Velasquez and Lyndia Osborne, Shown standing, same order: Ann Carriere and Bread of Life Executive Director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack.