Minto Foundation Sponsors Program to Feed the Homeless

The Minto Foundation recently made a donation of $25,000 to Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Inc. (BPHI) for sponsorship of the organization’s Breaking Bread Breaking Barriers program to feed the homeless and to support BPHI’sWorkforce Development Center.

For the homeless, hunger is a constant companion. A communal meal serves as a source of healing and connecting with others. BPHI meets this need by providing three nutritionally balanced meals a day for the 200 residents of the Broward County Central Homeless Assistance Center (Center) on the Huizenga Family Campus. BPHI’s Breaking Bread Breaking Bread program offers the opportunity for volunteers to feed the homeless by sponsoring, cooking and serving a meal at the Center. More than 3,000 volunteers from the community have participated in this program including many volunteers from Minto Communities.

“Each year we give back to the community who has treated us so well. This year, because of the economic situation, we changed our focus to help organizations that care for those who find themselves homeless.” said  James Traxinger, Executive Vice President Southeast Florida Operations.

The donation from the Minto Foundation also included funds to support BPHI’s Workforce Development Center.  Stumbling blocks to employment faced by homeless people include lack of education or competitive work skills. BPHI’s Workforce Development program provides access to a wide array of services such as, assistance in acquiring a GED diploma, vocational training programs, learning resume writing and interviewing skills, certifications in computers, culinary arts, security guard and home health aide.

“Climbing out of homelessness is impossible for those without a job or limited job skills or work experiences and opportunities for jobs that pay a living wage are minimal right now.”’ said Dan Taylor, Chair of BPHI’s Board of Directors, “This makes the Minto Foundation’s donation so valuable to our residents. By increasing the employability of our residents we are providing tools for self-sufficiency that we hope will break the cycle of homelessness by making available opportunities for long-term employment.”

In addition to volunteering to feed the homeless, volunteers from Minto Communities have donated a new collection of books to create a “Self-Help” library for the Behavioral Health Program at the Center. The books with titles such as “Self Matters: Creating you Life from the Inside Out” are used in conjunction with behavioral health counseling available to residents.    

For information on any of BPHI’s programs or volunteer opportunities please contact Berne Teeple, Director of Development, 954-832-7037 or bteeple@bphi.org