Ryan Hill knows that one organization’s efforts to provide nutritious and healthy food in the community can be a cornerstone in providing stability to the lives of Washington, DC residents. That organization, Bread for the City, is one of the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) largest and most successful partner agencies.
Ryan explains that Bread for the City, a food pantry in the Shaw/Logan Circle neighborhood, began in 1974 as the outgrowth of two groups: Zacchaeus, a free medical clinic in Logan Circle and Emmaus Services, which distributed food and clothing. In the mid-1990’s, they combined and formed Bread for the City. Ryan says that Bread for the City now provides free medical, legal and social services, which in turn create stability in their clients’ lives, including relieving hunger.
Bread for the City is also no stranger to urban gardening. Bread’s new rooftop garden and city orchard allow clients to raise, tend and harvest diverse produce across acres of land.
To Ryan, nutrition is a key component of the partnership between Bread for the City and the food bank. CAFB has been instrumental in providing Bread for the City with healthier food to help fight obesity and combat other health issues. Thus, Bread for the City obtains substantial quantities and better quality of food simultaneously. Ryan hopes that this partnership can only bear more fruit in the future.