Breadcoin has moved into its second major city with our spread into Baltimore, a natural next step and easy fit in a city where so many are working together to alleviate hunger and to care for those experiencing homelessness too. Just like in DC we are not only a coin for the homeless. All hungry people (and those who simply want to support the network) are welcome to use or give Breadcoins. They are truly a stigma-free way to be sure all are fed.
Our first Baltimore vendors are Crazy John’s and Natural Choice Deli, both on “the block,” the 400 E. Baltimore Street block downtown. Mainstays of the area, both give good value for the Breadcoins submitted for payment, with the possibility of a hearty breakfast or other sandwich or several large chicken tenders for just a couple of Breadcoins. Long hours, a huge variety of food — these vendors immediately began accepting Breadcoins.
We are grateful to have a Baltimore Captain, William Spruill, formerly of DC and working with us in Anacostia, who will oversee neighborhood distributions and vendor relations. We are thrilled to be working with a local nonprofit BeMoreCaring as a significant distribution partner, and are also gaining other partners, involved churches, faithful volunteers and potential vendors in Baltimore, which really adapted to this quite fast.
Pastor Jay Baylor, of Apostles in the City, is working linking churches and others who want to sponsor food distributions through a partnership with Blessings of Hope in Lancaster, PA. Those churches are hosting drive-up/walk-up opportunities for folks to come out and get big boxes of fresh food. That’s another way Breadcoin is involved, particularly during this Covid-19 crisis, in Baltimore as well as in DC.
A team of interested and involved folks is growing, and you are welcome to join us for our monthly Baltimore Breadcoin Zoom call. Email us for more information or to volunteer.
As always the work in Baltimore is funded by the generous monthly donors we call members because they truly do belong to something special and help this community response thrives. Join us, will you? Every $25 monthly membership puts 10 Breadcoins into the hands of a nonprofit that can give them to hungry folks to use for meals.