>> THREE DAYS A WEEK THE AMHERST BASED FOOD PROGRAM, NOT BREAD
ALONE, SERVES MEALS FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST.
FOR MANY WHO ARE HOMELESS, FOOD INSECURE OR STRUGGLING WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, IT'S A CHANCE FOR A GOOD
MEAL AND A PLACE TO FEEL SAFE.
BUT IN RECENT YEARS, NOT BREAD ALONE HAS BEEN HIT WITH
FINANCIAL ISSUES.
ROSS LIPPMAN TAKES US INSIDE THE NOT BREAD ALONE KITCHEN TO SEE
HOW THE PROGRAM IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO STAY OPEN AND FOR
EVERY MEAL TO BE SERVED.
>> NOT BREAD ALONE IS A THREE DAYS A WEEK MEAL PROGRAM.
THE NAME, NOT BREAD ALONE, SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT FOLKS
DON'T JUST GET A MEAL BUT THEY GET FELLOWSHIP, THEY BREAK
ISOLATION THAT CAN SO OFTEN HAPPEN WITH FOLKS WHO ARE
HOMELESS OR STRUGGLING IN OTHER WAYS.
AND THEY COME HERE AND THEY CERTAINLY GET FED A WONDERFUL
MEAL.
BUT THEY ALSO GET LOTS OF SUPPORT FROM THE STAFF AS WELL
AS THEIR FELLOW DINERS.
>> SO MANY DIFFERENT CHALLENGES GOING ON HERE WITH THE PEOPLE
THAT WE SERVE AND GETTING A MEAL OUT AND THE VOLUNTEERS COOKING.
MAKING SURE THE MEAL COMES OUT AT 4:00 EVERY SINGLE TIME.
>> I'M MAKING FOUR PIES.
AND I GOTTA PUT IN THE EGGS ONE AT A TIME, THERE'S FOUR OF THEM.
I ALWAYS TRY TO INCLUDE MORE CHOCOLATE THAN WHAT THE RECIPE
ASKS FOR.
>> BOB DOES AN AMAZING JOB CREATING THESE FABULOUS MEALS
WITH FOOD FROM THE FOOD BANK AND DONATED FOOD, AND ALL SORTS OF
DIFFERENT SOURCES.
AND WHAT COMES OUT OF THE KITCHEN IS REALLY AN AMAZING
DELICIOUS NUTRITIOUS MEAL.
>> WE ARE CREATING A GOOD MEAL, AND WE'RE DOING IT BY STRETCHING
AND TAPPING EVERY POSSIBLE IDEA AND RESOURCE.
I'M VERY ANXIOUS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
I WANT TO MAKE IT THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE.
SO IF I STOP TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM,
THAT MIGHT BE A WAIT.
>> NOT BREAD ALONE THIS YEAR FACES AN $8,000 DEFICIT
THE PROGRAM COSTS $56,000 A YEAR TO RUN, SO YOU THINK THAT CAN'T
BE THAT HARD TO RAISE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S REALLY JUST GETTING THE WORD OUT TO LET
PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE OUR PROBLEM.
WE USED TO GET FUNDING FROM THE TOWN OF AMHERST, WE USED TO GET
MONEY THROUGH F.E.M.A., WE USED TO GET ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT WE'VE
BEEN GETTING FROM FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ADD UP.
>> IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS I WOULD DOUBLE THE BUDGET.
THIS PROGRAM HAS OUTGROWN ITS BUDGET, AND IN MY OPINION WE
COULDN'T DO WHAT WE DO, EXCEPT A LOT OF US ARE MAKING SACRIFICES
TO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE.
FOLKS OFTEN END UP FEELING LIKE THEY GET THE LEFTOVERS.
AND THEY CAN FEEL VERY LEFT OVER, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE
THINGS THAT WE DO IN SOCIETY REALLY SHUT FOLKS OUT WHO ARE
HOMELESS OR STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND THAT COULDN'T BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH HERE AT NOT BREAD
ALONE.
>> I COME FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT'S COLD.
AND WHEN I'M HERE I FEEL AT PEACE, I REALLY DO, BECAUSE IT'S
COMMUNITY.
IT'S A REAL COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ARE HERE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE,
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THEY SHARE THEM.
AND WE ALL GET TO, IT'S LIKE A FAMILY.
>> NOT BREAD ALONE IS PART OF THE CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
BASED IN SPRINGFIELD.
WHEN WE ASKED WHAT C.H.D.
WILL DO TO HELP KEEP NOT BREAD
ALONE'S DOORS OPEN, WE RECEIVED THIS RESPONSE, SAYING THEY'RE
COMMITTED TO HAVING NOT BREAD ALONE MAINTAIN ITS FULL
COMPLIMENT OF MEALS TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE CONTINUING TO
SEEK NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING.