After a 10-year battle Bread Of Life sets date for grand re-opening

By Tara Vocino

It’s been 10 years in the making, but Sunday, Aug. 11 is when the Bread of Life will finally celebrate its grand re-opening at 54 Eastern Ave in Malden.

“It’s been a brutally long process,” Bread Of Life Board President Sean Twomey said Wednesday. “We had to overcome five stumbling blocks to get this done, including partners dropping out.”

Twomey said everything that could go wrong did, but moving past that, Metro North Housing Corporation saw it to fruition. They will help provide 14 studio apartments, some for formerly homeless veterans.

“It’s been an incredible struggle,” Twomey said. “They said it was going to take 3 years, but it took 10.”

However, Twomey said — today — Bread of Life is now the most efficient charitable organization.

Bread Of Life Development Director Patti Kelly said Wednesday that at the August grand re-opening, they will serve an ice cream buffet style, similar to how meals are served in the Bread Of Life to give guests that unique experience.

“Dairy Delight, who has been supportive of Bread Of Life, will help people to select toppings,” Kelly said. “People will scoop ice cream into a bowl.”

Guests can sponsor a garden bed (pictured) for a minimum of $2,000, which will be displayed outside of the new building. Sponsors will be named.

Kelly encouraged guests to come after enjoying the San Rocco festival from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 11. Limited street parking is available along Eastern Avenue behind the bicycle path. The parking lot only fits six cars, but Kelly said that shouldn’t be a deterrent. Guests will be able to tour the new building and apartments.

Mayor Gary Christenson commented on what the renovated Bread Of Life facility will bring to the city. “Since 1980, Bread of Life has been providing meals through food pantries, meals programs, and homeless family outreach. The new modernized facility will allow them to enhance these critical services while also providing 14 units of housing for formerly homeless individuals,” Christenson said. “We were proud to support their tireless efforts in bringing this project to completion, and the impact that it will have on our community cannot be overstated.”

Metro North Housing Corporation Executive Director Daniel LeBlanc said The Metro North Housing Board Of Directors is excited to be finishing construction on 14 new studio apartments that will provide great homes for some lower income residents, who might otherwise find themselves homeless.

The non-denominational food pantry is open to Malden, Saugus and Everett residents, including 13 other cities and towns. The new building may allow the pantry to serve on Mondays. Evening meals are served from Tuesdays to Fridays with approximately 100 people coming. Previously, Bread Of Life has used churches and freezers, sometimes hours before serving the meals, according to Twomey.

Past Executive Director Tom Feagley’s artwork will be on display in an art gallery and available for purchase to support Bread Of Life.

RSVP for a food count to Kelly at patty.kelly@breadoflifemalden.org.