On Saturday, Nov. 17, approximately 40 volunteers gathered in the St. Cabrini parish center to bag and distribute thousands of loaves of bread to churches and synagogues in and around the Springfield area. The 8,000 loaves were provided by Schnuck's and most were sold later that evening or the next day for Breadline Sunday.
Breadline Sunday is always held on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. "Breadline Sunday bread sales traditionally raise about $25,000 and all of that money goes directly to St. John's Breadline," said Julie Neposchlan, development coordinator for Catholic Charities in Springfield. The suggested donation for a loaf of bread was $4.
Neposchlan said that over 6,500 loaves of bread were picked up by churches and synagogues. Many of the "extra" loaves of bread were used in the Thanksgiving baskets that were assembled at St. Cabrini parish center on Nov. 19 and distributed through Catholic Charities annual Thanksgiving basket project. The rest will be used with meals at the Breadline.
The Breadline has been existence in one form or another since 1929. During the Great Depression the sisters of St. John's Hospital gave the hungry that came to their door a cup of soup, a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Most of the men who came were out of work and the lines often stretched two to three blocks long.
Even after the Depression, the needy still came to St. John's for food. In 1935 a local businessman, George Eisenberg, met with Bishop James Griffin and was instrumental in helping to purchase the first Breadline building at 230 N. Sixth St. In 1941, St. John's Breadline became a new facility under the management of Catholic Charities.
Today the Breadline is located at 430 N. Fifth St. in a building that was opened in 1994. It is large enough to seat 100 guests. It serves the homeless, the socially disabled, the elderly, the unemployed and many families, including single parent families with children. The majority of the guests are the "working poor" who are employed but unable to stretch their financial resources sufficiently.
The Breadline is open seven days a week year-round, offering meals from 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and from 2:45-4:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday. On Sunday it is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It serves an average of 600 meals per day to guests who come from all over the Springfield area. A large contingent of volunteers from area churches, schools and clubs support its services day in and day out.
St. John's Hospital continues to supplement the daily meals served at the Breadline. Every day a soup or stew is available. When resources permit a "plate meal" is served. Private donors and community businesses provide breads, prepared foods, produce items and milk.
United Way makes up approximately 25 percent of the annual Breadline budget. Other support comes from private donations of food and money, as well as interdenominational support from civic groups, churches and synagogues. Breadline Sunday is the Breadline's only fundraiser of the year, Neposchlan said.