Bread & Broth celebrates 30 years, volunteers and Father Grace just before his death

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a celebration of 30 years of serving food to the local community through St. Theresa Church's Bread & Broth program. It was a celebration of the volunteers that make their Monday Night meals, Second Serving meals and Bread & Broth 4 Kids so successful in feeding those in need, not only of food but for camaraderie and community.

It was also a celebration of Father John Grace and his long-time dream of feeding the South Lake Tahoe community, something that came to fruition with the help of Wendy David in 1989. At that time there many who were struggling, faced with job layoffs and a lack of food on the table.

Little did those attending the April 28 Bread & Broth Volunteer Appreciation luncheon at Lake Tahoe Golf Course know it would be the last time they would see the 98-year-old man who served the church for 70 years, Father Grace. He passed away just six days later on May 4, 2019.

Father Grace clearly enjoyed the luncheon as he and others shared stories of the early days of Bread & Broth. He and Wendy brought others together and got those first meals out to the public and consisted many times of pizza, spaghetti or French bread sandwiches. At that time they served 25 meals a week.

Bread & Broth has grown considerably over the years. Currently, Monday Meals serves hot, nutritious meals to an average of 90 dinner guests per week at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Grace Hall. Second Serving provides soup and a simple entree each Friday for 30-40 guests at Lake Community Presbyterian Church (temporarily held at St Theresa's Grace Hall). The Bread & Broth 4 Kids program provides weekend food backpacks for over 180 students each week in grades K-8 and provides over 500 nutritional snack bars to K-12 students in need.

All of this because of Father Grace's goal all those years ago of feeding the South Lake Tahoe Community.

"Father Grace was a blessing to all of South Lake Tahoe," said Wendy David on Sunday. "It is with a grateful heart that we were able to celebrate what he described as a program that he started to plan for 64 years ago when he came to South Lake Tahoe, that began 30 years ago and as we acknowledged him for as the founder of Bread and Broth. Now a week later, I know that God is greeting him with a 'Job well done, Father.' We were so fortunate to know him, love him and to follow his example of feeding the hungry and helping the homeless."

Father Grace arrived in New York from a small village in Tipperary County in 1948. Eight years later he found himself heading to South Lake Tahoe where his task was to continue to build a church that had a congregation of 100 people.

Even though he officially retired in 1993, Father Grace continue to participate in services, weddings, births and community activities.

In 2018 he celebrated 70 years of serving the Church.

"He was a great example of what a priest should be," said former Bread & Broth Director Diane Weidinger.

She recalled a story from the Bread & Broth's 30th-anniversary party:

"Just last Sunday at our luncheon Father Mauricio Hurtado asked Father Grace if he could get his plate and bring it back to the table for him," said Diane. "Father Grace looked at him and in a gentle but deliberate voice said 'No, I can get it myself.' Father Mauricio and I just smiled at each other and followed him to the buffet table. He will be greatly missed in our church community and beyond."

Current Bread & Broth Director Carol Gerard was the Master-of-Ceremonies for the afternoon.

Special acknowledgments were made of past directors Diane Weidinger and Evye Szanto; St. Theresa Catholic Church Parochial Administrator, Father Mauricio Hurtado; Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church pastor Bob Kelley; the St.Theresa Administrative staff Beverly Sass, Jennifer Gaston and Irene Lohmeier; and the original founders of Bread & Broth. In addition, awards were given to many of the volunteers followed by a raffle.

Bread & Broth would like to thank the various businesses for their support and donations for this event: Lake Tahoe Golf Course, Safeway, Leo Schools, Artemis Cafe, Azul Latin Kitchen, Base Camp Pizza, Beach Retreat & Lodge, Beacon Bar & Grill, Bear Beach Cafe, Blue Dog Gourmet Pizza, Cafe Fiore, Edgewood Bistro, El Charro Avitia, Flight Deck Bar & Grill, Lake Tahoe Ale WorX, MacDuff's Public House, McP's Taphouse Grill, Montbleu Resort Casino, Riva Grill, Scusa Italian Restorante, Sonney's Bar & Grill, Sushi Pier, Tahoe Pourhouse, Taste of Europe,Ten Crows BBQ, Tep's Villa Roma, and The Lake House.

For more information about Bread & Broth, please visit breadandbroth.org.