Dear Friends,
One of my favorite movies as a child was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I guess I liked it because, in the end, the Grinch discovers the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about presents, flashy clothes, or spending lots of money — it’s about sharing the gift of love with others. It’s about spending time with others. It’s about finding joy in serving others.
When the Grinch finally returns all of the gifts he’s stolen, his heart grows. He feels overwhelming acceptance with the town of Whoville. While the Grinch expected the townspeople to be sad, they rejoiced knowing that they were celebrating this special holiday with those they loved. While they may have been surprised about the loss of gifts and holiday trimmings, they were still excited about the real meaning of Christmas.
This year COVID-19 has continued to disrupt lives and cause havoc throughout the world. Nevertheless, we at Bread and Life have a lot to be thankful for. We’ve been blessed over the past year with funders, donors, and friends who believe in our mission and join with us as we work to ensure that no one goes hungry in our community.
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, we have served more than 5 million meals and distributed more than 6 million pounds of food to New Yorkers in need. We have extended our reach into more than 20 communities across Brooklyn and Queens, serving more than 253,000 people and 64,000 households. This is an amazing feat for an agency our size. Like the Grinch, whose heart grew larger and larger as he sat at the table to feast with his new friends, our hearts grow larger and larger each day when we see the impact we have in the community because of YOU.
As we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, I want to thank the staff at Bread and Life who continue to make an impact in the lives of others, our board of directors for their guidance as we move forward, and our funders and donors who join with us to ensure that our mission continues. May your holidays and New Year be happy and blessed!
In gratitude,
Sr. Caroline Tweedy, RSM