BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013
Say you saw it in the Beacon
Careers Volunteers &
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Volunteers cook casseroles for homeless By Carol Sorgen More than 30 years ago, Liz Turnbaugh first heard about the Classic Casserole Program at Our Daily Bread (ODB), Maryland’s hot meal program that serves more than a quarter million meals to hungry Baltimore City residents each year. A program of Catholic Charities, ODB serves nutritious lunches every day of the year, and breakfast each weekday, to seniors and individuals with disabilities. The program is located in the Our Daily Bread Employment Center at 725 Fallsway, which houses a number of Catholic Charities programs, including job training and employment counseling, case management, and an intensive residential program combining all the nonprofit’s services.
Calling cooks and non-cooks alike The Classic Casserole Program has been the backbone of ODB’s feeding program serving the poor and homeless since 1981. Individuals and groups alike make casseroles (recipes are available online; if you don’t cook, a family-size frozen meal, such as macaroni and cheese, is also welcome) and deliver them to the center. Turnbaugh started out decades ago making five casseroles a month, along with other members of her parish, St.
Charles Rectory in Pikesville. She will be 89 in July, and has now cut back to making two casseroles a month. But she still goes down to ODB once a month to deliver the meals and help out in any way she can. “Daily Bread is a big part of my life,” said Turnbaugh. “I just thank God that I am as fortunate as I am and that I can help those who are less so.” Turnbaugh is so dedicated to ODB that several years ago she held a pre-funeral party for herself. “If I’m going to pay for my funeral, I want to enjoy it,” said the Pikesville resident. She asked her guests to make contributions to ODB, and she raised $2,600. “Everyone knows how I feel about Daily Bread,” said Turnbaugh. “Helping others means so much to me. I keep praying that I can continue going down there.” Jack Nolan feels the same way. “It’s a privilege,” he said of his efforts serving meals at the center. The 87-year-old Baltimore City resident began volunteering at ODB 20 years ago, and “one week led to another.” A retired teacher, Nolan has impressed his children and grandchildren with how many people he has served on his weekly Wednesday trips. “People will come up to me on the streets of Baltimore and give me a hug,” he said, adding that when he’s not able to
go, “they miss me.” In addition to serving meals, Nolan has also begun collecting gently used magazines and bringing them to the people served at Our Daily Bread. “I bring 90 to 100 magazines every week,” he said. “They read everything I bring.” Volunteering is a “humbling” experience, said Nolan, who is troubled by those who turn their back on the homeless. “There are people who will cross the street rather than walk by a homeless person,” he said. Nolan said he was first inspired by two volunteers, one of whom was 89, the other 90. “If they can come, I can make it too,” he told himself. “Everyone has to have a pur-
PHOTO COURTESY OF OUR DAILY BREAD
Volunteers at Our Daily Bread put the finishing touches on meals for the homeless. Our Daily Bread is a project of Catholic Charities.
pose in life, and this is my contribution to society.”
Become a volunteer To become a part of the Classic Casserole Program, either on a one-time basis or as a regular participant, call the volunteer line at (443) 986-9031 to let them know when and what casseroles to expect. In addition to Our Daily Bread, Catholic Charities runs 80 programs serving more than 160,000 Marylanders each year. More than 15,000 volunteers serve the organization in a variety of ways. You can volunteer as an individual, family, business or group. All faiths and ages are welcome. For more information, visit www.catholiccharities-md.org.