Lord's Daily Bread serves Denver community members that are struggling with physical and mental health challenges, disability, immigration status, economic disadvantage, substance use, and domestic violence. The organization has built deep community trust over 25 years by providing respectful, reliable services to meet clients’ basic needs and help them navigate paths to self-sufficiency. LDB’s programs are offered year-round on an ongoing basis. LDB team members are currently serving food to approximately 400 individuals in downtown Denver weekly and 175 in Aurora once per month through food deliveries to shelters. In addition, LDB carries out occasional on-site feedings in various locations throughout the Denver metro area. Also, every week meals are being delivered to 35 older adults and individuals with disabilities who are unable to attend meal services in person. In 2022, LDB served 49,200 meals and provided 31,630 referrals and are hoping to do 61,000 meals and 41,000 referrals in 2023.
Since late August 2023, LDB has been collaborating closely with Denver Mayor Mike Johnson's Homeless Task Force, marking a significant expansion of their ongoing efforts. As of October 24, 2023, the task force has referred over 750 individuals to LDB's services. These individuals represent diverse nationalities, including countries in Asia such as Indonesia, as well as Ecuador, France, Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Senegal, and Venezuela. The task force has opened up new avenues for cooperation and resource-sharing, reinforcing LDB's commitment to addressing the issue of homelessness in a comprehensive and efficient manner. Through this partnership with the Homeless Task Force, LDB has gained access to additional resources and support networks to better serve its clients, ensuring that LDB's services are well-coordinated with the broader efforts to address homelessness in the city. In October, LDB's referral system played a crucial role in connecting individuals to housing, employment, and other essential resources and services facilitating a total of 1,561 referrals.
Lord's Daily Bread's mission is to provide food and respectful, reliable services to meet clients’ basic needs and help them navigate paths to self-sufficiency. We do this through developing partnerships with local retailers who donate to our organization. This includes financial contributions as well as in-kind donations: personal care products, clothing and, primarily, food, which we then transport to feeding locations and distribute to the people who need it.
Lord's Daily Bread began serving the homeless population in downtown Denver in 1990 when our founder, Russell Bryant, started using his personal financial resources to help provide food for those without housing in the heart of the city. Immediately, Bryant recognized other significant needs including clothes, toiletries, bus passes, mental health services, and employment assistance. LDB quickly developed into a vibrant organization attracting funders, volunteers, and collaborators. The organization formalized in 2004 and received its non-profit status in 2007 with a mission to provide food, counseling, health services, and referrals to the poor and homeless in Metropolitan Denver. While there are many organizations providing meals to Denver’s homeless population, the need for additional food and wraparound services continues to grow alongside the homeless population. LDB’s unique model recruits volunteers and employs former participants with lived experience in homelessness, mental health and substance use challenges, incarceration, and other experiences often associated with homelessness. This community-informed approach helps build trusting and mutually respectful relationships with current participants, which increases the likelihood of participant engagement and follow-through with requested wraparound services.
LDB’s work has been recognized by Bennie Milliner, former Executive Director of Denver’s Road Home, for its role in the 10-year plan to end homelessness and Mr. Bryant was awarded Community Leader of the Year by REACH Foundation for the impact of his work through LDB.
Lord's Daily Bread operates an Emergency Hunger Relief Program and is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to feeding the homeless.
Organization name
The Lord's Daily Bread
other names
LDB
1990
Tax id (EIN)
41-2147842
Category
Human Services, Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, Housing & Shelter, Health Care, Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Employment, Public & Societal Benefit
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
846 E 18TH AVEDenver, CO, US
Aurora, CO, US