New leadership joins the Bread Shed

Penny Cronin Taylor, originally from the Poplar Bluff and Doniphan areas, is the first full-time executive named to oversee for the Bread Shed.

The program, which serves 30,000 people annually, is a multi-denominational effort of local churches and volunteers, which has grown steadily since it began in 2010.

With such growth, the need emerged for a full-time executive to be named and given oversight of the ministry. The 12-member board named Taylor to the newly created position.

Taylor grew up in Poplar Bluff and like many others moved away. Returning home from Knoxville, Tennessee, two years ago as a mother of five, she brought her desire to serve others, as well as a loving heart for the community.

Taylor, who became involved in the Poplar Bluff First Baptist Church, said, “the Lord opened the doors for me to be employed at the Missouri Job Center.”

While at the center, she first experienced services provided by the Bread Shed.

She, along with coworkers, visited the Bread Shed in Poplar Bluff, as well as others in adjoining counties, to provide food purchased with grant funds to those served by the organization. They also shared information about the services offered by the job center.

The experience “opened my eyes,” said Taylor, explaining she saw the need for everyone to work together to help others step up in life.

The board and Taylor’s goals are to serve more people.

She plans to reach out not only to those in need, but to work closely with others in the community, like the churches, area chamber of commerces and not-for-profit organizations.

Taylor is looking forward to resourcing and networking with others and establishing databases of all community resources and services.

By networking and pooling resources, Taylor hopes to offer more to those in need.

Career planning and financial coaching are areas Taylor wants to incorporate into the program’s services.

“We are planning to fundraise,” she said.

The first event will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at the First Baptist Church. Anyone interested in the event may contact Taylor.

Taylor reminds everyone the Bread Shed began with a handful of teachers and their spouses with a desire to feed hungry children.

Now offering many programs, it has become a community resource center. From giving haircuts free of charge, to providing food for the ABC program, the Bread Shed continues to meet the needs of families in the area communities.

In addition to monthly distributions of food and clothing, weekly community meals with the Breaking Bread program and providing USDA commodities to senior citizens, the Bread Shed seeks to point community members to other helpful local resources.

To accomplish this, the Bread Shed partners with a variety of community programs including SEMO Food Bank, John 3:16, 3:17, Foster Adopt Connect, Crossroads, Poplar Bluff School System, Poplar Bluff Housing Authority, as well as many local churches and businesses.

For more information about making donations, volunteering or receiving help, contact the Bread Shed by phone at 573-712-7356, online through social media or the website www.breadshed.org.