Bringing Hope and Help in the Midst of COVID-19 In Detroit Through The Bed & Bread Club
As we head into April, the world continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, and the city of Detroit is no different. With over ten thousand homeless and a poverty rate that is nearly three times the national average, Detroit is home to innumerable families facing financial hardship and difficulty securing their basic needs. In response to this, The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division’s Bed & Bread Club is continuing its work of feeding people daily.
Phillip Leavell loads a Bed & Bread truck for its daily route
Before the COVID-19 crisis, many families in Detroit were already making tough decisions between paying rent or buying food. As unemployment rises and kids continue to miss school lunches, the circumstances have only become more dire. The Bed & Bread Club is rising to meet that need. We are grateful for the support from our community partners and local restaurants who have provided the Bed & Bread Club with large amounts of food to distribute to Detroiters in need.
Shatasha Withers prepares to begin her route through Detroit's neighborhoods
Need is also expanding beyond food into paper products and cleaning supplies, which reflects the current high demand for these products and the effort everyone is making to prioritize safety. While The Bed & Bread Club looks into procuring more essentials for the people it serves, the trucks have been retrofitted with secure serving windows to prevent personal contact and promote safety for people on both sides of the window. Despite the lack of personal contact, Captain David Martinez of the Dearborn Heights Corps, who recently served on one of the trucks, was amazed by the relationships between the drivers, volunteers, and recipients. “Everyone knows each other,” says Martinez. “These personal relationships are giving people the strength to live through this crisis.”
The retrofitted windows of the Bed & Bread trucks allow for food distribution with no personal contact
Captain Jamie Winkler, Executive Director of The Bed & Bread Club, knows how important it is during this time to give a message of hope. “Whether you have a need to be met or want to get involved in our mission, we are here, putting ourselves on the front lines to support our community. We want people to know that in these days of social distancing and isolation, you’re not alone.”