December 4, 2011
Dear Friends: Did you ever see a man stoop over and pick up a used cigarette from the sidewalk, light it, and smoke it? Did you ever see a woman bend over and go through a city trash can, find a half-used can of soda, and drink it? Did you ever see someone check the coin return slot of a soda machine in hopes of finding some change? I have witnessed all of these scenes and more. I see people who have not had a shower in weeks, have not had a bed to sleep in for months, and have not been to a dentist in years. I see people who cannot articulate a thought, cannot focus on an object, and cannot keep a job. I know people who have not seen their families for years, do not know where their children are, and can not remember the last time they spend a holiday with family. At DDB, we are all the family that some of our clients know. We serve the Thanksgiving the Christmas dinners. We fill the dining room with good cheer and warmth, friendship and the spirit of giving. At DDB, we are the embodiment of giving: giving food, giving clothing, giving showers, giving encouragement. We also get back. We get back a heartfelt thank you, words of gratitude, and wide smiles. We get as much if not more than we give. If you cannot be with us every day of the year when we serve meals, you can be in spirit with us when you contribute to our mission. If you cannot hand out clothing and personal hygiene items, you can partner with us with your financial support. We all can work together to see that over 40,500 meals are served next year. You can help support the Lunch Plus program which provides showers, lockers, mail service, transportation, and all of the other programs offered at DDB. Together we can make a difference. “To save one life is to save the world.� It is an awesome thought, but we can make a difference. Please join us by sending a tax deductible contribution to Downtown Daily Bread. You can feed 100 people with a $200 donation, 50 people with a $100 donation and so forth ($2 per meal). Regardless of what you are able to donate, it will make a difference. Peace and well wishes from the Downtown Daily Bread staff. Sincerely,
Elaine Strokoff Executive Director