Breaking Bread program returns to Salvation Army Stratford

Salvation Army Stratford is reviving an old program to ensure those in need have access to a variety of bread products.

The local chapter of the Salvation Army brought back its Breaking Bread program in early February. Breaking Bread is a drop-in service where clients can pick up bread on Fridays while supplies last between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the local Salvation Army office on 230 Lightbourne Ave.

Sobey’s and Cobs Bread locations partnered with the Salvation Army to supply food, including bread products.

“Our main goal right now is to make food more accessible for individuals. We do have a lot of bread product,” said Jennifer Morris, community and family services manager of Salvation Army Stratford. “We have wonderful community partners that make that a possibility and we're trying to help people make sure they can stretch the funds that they do have as far as they can go."

So far, turnout has been lower than anticipated, but Morris is hoping that picks up with warmer weather.

"It hasn't quite taken off as we expected but we know the weather hasn't been working in our favour as of late, but we're hoping that as the weather gets nicer and people hear more about it that they'll be able to participate,” she said.

For now, the Breaking Bread program will just be in Stratford. However, Morris said that the organization would like to eventually expand the program to nearby areas like St. Marys and Mitchell.

The Breaking Bread program will not operate on Good Friday, which falls on April 3.