A Community Program: No-Questions-Asked Hot Meals

“My compliments to the chef, thank you!” The compliment rings into the kitchen and smiles roll around the faces of the cooks. Debbie Harrell points to the man and says, “That’s it, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

Harrell is the executive director of Pulaski Daily Bread housed in the basement of Pulaski’s First Presbyterian Church. It is a no-questions-asked hot meal Monday through Friday for 100s of people in need. Last year the volunteer kitchen crews and servers fed 38,200 meals; 3,230 in December alone. On this day, the hungry enjoy a steaming plate of chicken and dumplings, green beans, stuffing, fruit salad and cake.

The program does not advertise and relies instead on wordof- mouth to reach people. Judges in the local courtroom will tell people coming before the court that they can get a hot meal a few blocks away. One diner will share what’s on the menu with someone else as he or she walks back onto the street or heads back to work. People see the noon meal as a time to gather, chat, catch-up and talk about work.

“I love this work,” Harrell said, “It’s very heartwarming. These people really depend on this program...a lot of individuals depend on this for their hot meal.”

More than 100 volunteers throughout the year help cook and serve food donated by the community. Donations come from the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank in cooperation with Food Lion and Food City as well as cans collected by U.S. Postal workers. “This is a community program…as long as the community feels it is needed, it will be supported,” Harrell said.

She pointed to the ongoing support from the Community Foundation as one example of support that not only helps the program succeed, but validates its existence. The Community Foundation has made three grants to Pulaski Daily Bread over the years totaling $1,500. Two grants came from the Piscura Family Endowed Fund and one from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund.

Bob and Debbie Piscura, Draper, founded the Piscura Family Fund and volunteer regularly at Pulaski Daily Bread. When asked what makes this work rewarding, Bob Piscura said, “It would have to be Juanita.” Juanita is a regular at Pulaski Daily Bread who sports a positive attitude to match her open smile. Bob Piscura said no matter when he asks her how she is doing she always says, “I’m blessed, I’m thankful.” Piscura went on to say “she’s 74 years old, she looks at the bright side, but probably has a lot of reasons to look on the bad side, but doesn’t.”

Harrell is the program’s sole employee, As she talks about the rewards of working at Pulaski Daily Bread she notes that the volunteers are a big part of what makes it gratifying. “It’s a total blessing,” Harrell said. “You may be tired at the end of the day, but it’s the best kind of tired.”