Until March 2020, Saturday Breakfast was a twice monthly affair, often serving over 300 of our hungry neighbors a delicious breakfast of scrambled plain or fancy eggs, fried potatoes, sausage and bacon, grits, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, baked apples or another fruit, juice, milk, and lots of coffee. COVID-19 brought that to a quick halt. We tried to move to a brown bag meal with a breakfast burrito, fruit, other snacks and lots of coffee served in front of the courtyard gate. The complexities of safely bringing that many people to one location in a limited space seemed impossible.
In April, we joined forces with the Catholic Service Workers to provide a reduced breakfast under the Washington-Jefferson Street Bridge. We purchased catering bags to keep the food warm and helped provide every other week eggs, potatoes, oatmeal and coffee. In June, the connections we had to that breakfast were broken when the Catholic Service Workers leadership changed. (For a few weeks, that breakfast was not served, but it is now being served again by that group on its own.)
At that point, we formed two teams to make food every week (except the 5th Saturday of any month) for delivery through White Bird and, on the fourth Saturday of each month, to seven Community Supported Shelter sites (Conestoga huts). The food going to White Bird is enough for 70 or so sandwiches, fruit and snacks every day delivered by White Bird staff at their main building on 12th, just around the corner from St. Mary’s. The fourth Saturday, a special breakfast of eggs, biscuits and gravy are delivered to the CSS sites. Each week, about 500 sandwich lunches are provided to White Bird and 50-60 special breakfasts are served to CSS residents. We continue to look for partners to expand this food ministry, but the continuing presence of COVID-19 restrictions has cut into our volunteer base – at least until vaccinations are widespread. Recently, the interfaith sandwich group has begun sharing our kitchen to make more delicious sandwiches each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon.
Breakfast preparation is done in the kitchen for hot food and in Berktold Hall for the sandwiches. Volunteers are present from about 7 AM until 9 AM at the latest (for all preparation and clean up). Careful distance is mandated, with individuals (or couples) at separate tables spaced 10 feet or more apart. Masks are required at all times in the church and handwashing and vinyl gloves are de rigueur.
Again, we specifically sought donations for hats, gloves, socks, hand warmers, etc. The appeal issued in December brought in enough donations of the gear itself and money to purchase hundreds of each of these items. They have been distributed so far through the Egan Warming Center (serving about 125 individuals in 3 Eugene sites and one Springfield site (St. John’s Episcopal Church).
We especially appreciate all those who volunteer, contribute and otherwise help make this ministry possible. If you may be interested in helping with this ministry, please contact volunteer organizers Dick Z or Kathryn C by calling the church main number and leaving a message on the main line indicating you are interested.
-From Saturday Breakfast’s 2020 annual report
