Bread of Life still needs your help

The Bread of Life is Malden’s main food pantry and meal service, helping hundreds of clients from Malden and surrounding communities throughout the year. Founded in 1980, the local volunteer organization distributes 34,000 meals annually, and last year gave the equivalent of 230,000 meals to Malden-area families in need of food.

According to Gabriella Snyder, special projects coordinator for Bread of Life, the organization gave away more than 300 turkey baskets to families in need before Thanksgiving, and delivered 231 meals to elderly shut-ins on Thanksgiving Day. They are now preparing for the Christmas season, collecting warm weather clothing to distribute to Malden families in need at the annual Christmas Day dinner, for which Bread of Life is still seeking food donations.

Under the Gifts of Hope campaign, this newspaper will track the charitable, selfless work the volunteers at Bread of Life undertake throughout December – and, with generosity on the part of readers and residents, bring in the needed donations Bread of Life relies upon to make the holidays a season of thankfulness and joy for all.

Donations, whether in the form of clothing or a personal check, can be dropped off at 511 Main St. during business hours, from noon to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. All clothing gifts should arrive unwrapped so Bread of Life volunteers can match donated items with the size of recipients.

Snyder said Bread of Life will also welcome donations of gift certificates to grocery and department stores, such as Stop n’ Shop, Target and Kohl’s, which her group will distribute to families struggling to put food on the table as heating bills and holiday costs mount.