Breaking Bread on Broad began in 2017 as a summer program to provide neighborhood children with free breakfast and lunch, along with a program of fun and learning, within the walls of Rodeph Shalom.  The advent of the pandemic required us to redesign our program to serve the ongoing needs of our neighbors suffering from food insecurity and lack of basic supplies for daily living.  Breaking Bread on Broad (BBoB) now provides food, diapers, and feminine hygiene supplies to up to 170 families in need each Wednesday morning outside our Green Street entrance.  BBoB partners with a variety of Philadelphia non-profits and our own RS members to obtain and distribute these necessary items.  We fulfill our RS mission to create profound connections within our RS community as we join together in this sacred work of tikkun olam and within our neighborhood through our partnerships with other organizations and our relationships with the families we serve.      

Our volunteers find working with BBoB a deeply moving and enriching experience.

For more information on Breaking Bread on Broad, or to volunteer, contact bbob@rodephshalom.org. Click here to read the Breaking Bread on Broad Prayer by Ellen Poster. 

You can help by buying needed items from our Amazon registry and/or by making and donating handmade items. The drive is open now and runs through December 15.You can also take a look at the registry to learn our current needs, and purchase comparable warm clothing from any source you choose! New, unused items only please. Ship to Rodeph Shalom, ATTN: BBoB, or drop items off at the RS security desk and tell them it’s for BBoB.

If you are interested in donating a handmade item, here are some guidelines:

• Please use soft, washable yarn.
• Not sure what to make? Consider a stroller blanket, or children’s hats, gloves/mittens, and scarves.
• Are you on Ravelry? Knitzvot has a Ravelry profile where we’ve collected some simple, free patterns to get you started, and a Ravelry group where we can talk about what we’re making and share our progress!
• Need help with your pattern or project? Come to a Knitzvot meeting and we’ll problem-solve together!
• We’ll be collecting finished projects at our 12/6 meeting (which will also be our Hanukkah party!)

Do you have questions that aren’t answered here? Contact Susan Roth (knitzvot@gmail.com) or Ellen Poster (ellenajme@aol.com).