MORE THAN A MEAL - SEPTEMBER 2025 | | |
On August 16, we celebrated the 43rd anniversary of the Breakfast Program. For more than 15,600 mornings, we have welcomed those in need with kindness and community, and served over 1,000,000 nutritious hot meals.
Over those 43 years, we have been supported by so many in this community. We are deeply grateful for Food Gatherers, Washtenaw Dairy, Panera, Starbucks, Kiwanis Thrift Sale, Wolverine Street Medicine, and so many other individuals and organizations who have contributed food, time, and funding to help provide for the most vulnerable in our community. And we are so very grateful for all of you, our donors and volunteers, without whom none of this would be possible. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to make the Breakfast "More than a Meal!"
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Dear Friends,
As the weather turns cooler and we settle back into fall routines, I find myself reflecting on the summer months here in the St. Andrew’s kitchen.
One of the highlights for me this summer was serving the many fresh fruits and vegetables that were in season. Our guests were delighted to have fresh watermelon several times a week. And thanks to our partnership with Food Gatherers, we were able to serve stuffed green peppers, ratatouille with fresh zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes, cucumber salad, yellow squash, Michigan asparagus, sweet cherries and homemade tomato soup. We are looking forward to Michigan apples, winter squash, pumpkin pancakes and homemade hearty vegetable soups as we move into fall.
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Although many of our regular volunteers were away on summer vacations, we had plenty of help in the kitchen every morning. New volunteers reached out every week looking for opportunities to get involved. This summer, we were blessed to have volunteers from many of the area high schools including Father Gabriel Richard, Dexter, Detroit Catholic Central, Pioneer, Huron, and Greenhills. We even welcomed a group of 7th graders for a cooking session in July! This fall we will continue our partnership with Ann Arbor Community High School with regular morning volunteers and cooking sessions once a month. During these challenging times, It is uplifting to see so many young people who want to help others in their community.
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We had large crowds most mornings this summer; we estimate that we served on average 120 meals per day. Many of our guests are living in tents or sleeping unsheltered outside. It is difficult to see them struggle as the nights get colder, but we are grateful for the donations of warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags from friends and parishioners, Kiwanis Thrift Sale and Fed Up Ministries. Fall is a good time to clean out closets. Please consider the Breakfast Program if you have extra warm clothing; gently used items are appropriate and always appreciated.
Thank you,
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How Do I Volunteer?
Current Volunteers: You can sign up for all volunteer shifts on SignUpGenius.
New Volunteers: We are always happy to welcome new members to the team! If you have never volunteered at the Breakfast before and would like to get involved, please email our volunteer coordinator at standrewsbreakfast@gmail.com. She will send you some general information and the links to the SignUpGenius pages.
Connect with The Breakfast
If you would like to learn more about the Breakfast Program, please visit breakfastatstandrews.org; email Sue at breakfast@standrewsaa.org; or follow us on Instagram @thebreakfastprogram!
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Charles Schwab
Over the past several months, three different groups from Charles Schwab’s Ann Arbor office have volunteered for Breakfast Program cooking sessions. The first two groups visited us during Schwab’s Volunteer Weeks; they had so much fun that they encouraged their summer intern class to give it a try! Each group worked for several hours chopping fresh fruit, wrapping burritos, cracking eggs, rolling meatballs and peeling potatoes. Thank you, Charles Schwab, for your continued financial support and helping us create delicious dishes for our guests!
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First United Methodist Church Ann Arbor's
Love Thy Neighbor Program
FUMC-AA’s Love Thy Neighbor program has partnered with the Breakfast Program at St. Andrew’s for the past 17 years to provide our guests with food to eat later in the day. FUMC volunteers of all ages pack “to go” bags 2-3 times a month and deliver them to St. Andrew’s. Breakfast volunteers hand them out to our guests every day until the supply runs out. FUMC currently provides about 500 bags per month. Bags include non-perishable items which are easy to open (pop-top cans and bags), so that food may be eaten by guests in any circumstance. Thank you, Love Thy Neighbor, for your hard work and dedication!
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Did you know that over the last 12 months, Food Gatherers donated more than 65,000 pounds of food to the Breakfast Program?
That's the equivalent of 54,458 meals!
Thank you, Food Gatherers, for all you do to alleviate hunger in Washtenaw County. To learn more about their on-going support of 140 local programs, see their Year End Report.
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Save the Date!
The Ann Arbor CROP Hunger Walk is on October 5, 2025. Join The Breakfast Program and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church as they fight against hunger! To make a donation or register to walk with us please visit Our Team Page.
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