Over 125 students volunteered to participate in making the ceramic tile mural that now adorns the wall at the entrance of Poplar Bluff’s Bread Shed.
“The mural is a way to communicate how we depend upon each other and also to share how the Bread Shed has grown with many other services besides groceries for school children,” said Poplar Bluff High School art instructor Deana Ward. “The mural was a way for my art classes to collaborate for a positive community cause.”
In 2000, after teaching in Hazelwood, Missouri, for 16 years, Ward began teaching for the Poplar Bluff School District at Lake Road Elementary. Ward recently retired, but due to a shortage of teachers decided to accept a position as the high school art instructor.
“Mr. Mike Owen, our high school principal, asked me to teach a year as an art teacher at the high school because of a teacher shortage. I never thought about teaching kids taller than myself but he convinced me I could do it. The experience turned out to be the most rewarding year of my 37 years of teaching,” said Ward.
Thirteen years ago a snow day in February made it possible for teachers like Ward and other caring individuals to take a day to collaborate on how they could help local families in need.
The Bread Shed is near and dear to the heart of Ward and her husband, who have been personally invested in the charity since its creation 13 years ago.
“It started when a few teachers and their ministry-driven husbands knew kids came to school hungry on Mondays after the weekend. We served breakfast on Saturdays at the building across the street from the present Bread Shed. My husband, Jim, facilitates it, along with many vested volunteers,” said Ward.
“When the Bread Shed started, all of us were connected to or were teachers and still that rings true today,” said Jim Ward, Bread Shed executive director. “We are centered around trying to help families, which helps students, which helps the schools.”
Bread Shed is a ministry that many local students have either been helped by or volunteered for with their clubs and churches. Every Sunday the organization sees hot meals are served by any group interested, haircuts are provided at second Saturday food and clothing distributions, senior boxes and student family groceries are also provided once a month. The most recent service being offered is a shower trailer for those that are displaced and without facilities.
“We are 92% free and reduced lunch here in Butler County and Poplar Bluff, so we have a lot of kids on the weekend that go hungry, so we started doing breakfast to bridge the gap. We walked the neighborhoods and handed out flyers, which quickly grew to our mobile distributions. A truck comes and we serve about 350 people,” said Jim Ward.
The charity began serving one county and has now grown to three, serving Butler, Carter and Ripley counties.
“The Bread Shed is one of the largest pantries now purchasing food from the Sikeston food bank. We have access to the food. Financial help is what we need. The lion’s share of the money we receive goes to the food bank,” said Jim Ward.
Due to the growth in the community, need and a new fostering endeavor, Jim Ward has recently decided to turn over some of his responsibilities to Chris Kellums.
“This thing has grown and takes a lot of our time,” said Jim Ward. “My wife and I have decided to work with older youth that will be transitioning out of foster care, so we are going to be focusing on that a bit more.”
Kellums will now be assuming the role of executive director.
“I was over the catering and kitchen at John 3:16 for about five years. I organized and set-up events, it’s kind of a passion,” said Kellums. “I know the Lord will provide, with the resources that are already in place and food, it just always seems to work.”
“The money comes in dimes, nickels and quarters,” said Jim Ward, “but we are grateful for every donation. I have even had kids bring me change in their ziplock bags.”
The Bread Shed does not just feed the community, they are a part of something much bigger that allows local charitable organizations to not only collaborate but also get the word out to those in need of the many resources they provide, such as hot meals, diaper giveaways, free showers, groceries for school children, a bike ministry and clothing donations to about 35,000 people a year. For more information or volunteer opportunities, please check them out online at https://www.facebook.com/breadshed.