Lee Egerton of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation to continue 15-year commitment of volunteer service to city’s hungry

Dedication of Our DailyBreadEmploymentCenter to be held May 24, 8:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.725 Fallsways

03 May 06 12:00 AM CDT

May 3, 2006-Lee Egerton of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation will be among the celebrants at the dedication of Catholic Charities’ Our Daily Bread Employment Center (ODBEC) on May 24. The ceremony will be held 8:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. at 725 Fallsway.  For the past 15 years, Egerton has served each week as a volunteer at Our Daily Bread hot meal program that will relocate along with two other existing Catholic Charities’ programs to the newly constructed, three-story 52,000-square-foot building. ODBEC will be the city’s first comprehensive resource center for people who are poor and under skilled. Governor Martin O’Malley and Baltimore City Mayor Shelia Dixon will be in attendance.

The unique services of Our Daily Bread Employment Center

ODBEC will house three existing Catholic Charities programs: Our Daily Bread daily hot meal program; Christopher Place Employment Academy, a residential program for formerly homeless men aimed at employment and permanent housing; and the Maryland Re-entry Partnership, a program that enables formerly incarcerated men to successfully reintegrate into the community. The Center also provides case management and an array of services by Catholic Charities as well as partner providers. These services include eviction prevention services, emergency and referral services, job-readiness assistance, job referral services, job placement, job retention and follow up, adult basic education, medical services (limited), recovery support, assistance with criminal background issues, access to computers and telephones, mail distribution, and workshops on home ownership, financial literacy and healthy relationships.

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s support of Our Daily Bread

Starting in 1992, Egerton, who is the volunteer and coordinator of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s volunteers, enlisted the support of other members to prepare casseroles, a staple of the meal program,as a mitzvah. Starting with a delivery of 17 casseroles, the group now provides between 60 and 80 casseroles each month that are prepared following kosher dietary guidelines. Preparation of the casseroles has also become a project for children at the synagogue who are preparing for their bat mitzvah. Volunteering every Friday, Egerton asks the Our Daily Bread kitchen supervisor what is most needed and always brings the requested item during her next visit.

In support of Christian volunteers’ observance of Christmas, each year members of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation cook the traditional holiday meal of turkey and side dishes for Our Daily Bread guests.

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation is a Reform Judaism synagogue, located at 7401 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore.

A Catholic Charities advertisement featuring Baltimore Hebrew Congregation has appeared in newspapers to spotlight the board spectrum of community support the agency has received. In the ad, Lee Egerton appears on the far left in the group photo.  Lee Egerton was also featured in a commemorative book that was distributed in 2006 to mark Our Daily Bread’s 25-year Anniversary.

More information about Our Daily Bread Employment Center

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