Our Daily Bread Community Center

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Our Daily Bread Community Center Everyone is welcome and everyone that enters is a friend. When soup kitchens first appeared, they were run by churches or private charities.

Soup kitchens in America started around 1929 when the affects of a growing depression began to be felt. The need for soup kitchens was felt even more keenly when the tailspin in the economy worsened in 1932, and 12 million Americans — about 25 percent of the normal labor force — were out of work. By the mid-1930s, state and federal governments also were operating them. Soup kitchens served mostly soup and bread. Soup was economical because water could be added to serve more people, if necessary. Every city and town had a soup kitchen. If a hungry person happened to be out in the country, he or she would have to travel to a nearby community to get a meal. Kitchens would either be run outdoors, in churches, cafeterias, or service centers. Soup kitchens still exist for homeless persons and struggling families across America. Some organizations that had started with kitchens expanded their services.

Small supplies keep a community kitchen moving, and a few everyday items go a long way at Our Daily Bread. Here are some...
10/22/2026

Small supplies keep a community kitchen moving, and a few everyday items go a long way at Our Daily Bread. Here are some of the items on our current needs list:

▪️ Bulk coffee, poured for our friends each morning
▪️ Canned fruit and #10 cans of vegetables, the base of many of our meals
▪️ Napkins and paper towels for serving and cleanup
▪️ Laundry detergent pods for the daily washing that keeps our space welcoming

A church can pick one category for a monthly collection, and an individual can bring one or two items during our regular weekday hours.

Check the current needs list at www.odbread.org/needs or call us at 419-224-2086 before donating so we can point you to what's most needed. God bless.

On World Food Day, October 16, we're reminded that food brings people together. At Our Daily Bread, a meal is nourishmen...
10/16/2026

On World Food Day, October 16, we're reminded that food brings people together. At Our Daily Bread, a meal is nourishment, but it's also fellowship, dignity, and a chance to offer hope. We serve hot meals free of charge in downtown Lima, and everyone who walks in is welcomed as a friend.

You can mark the day locally by donating a pantry item, sponsoring a meal-related need, scheduling a volunteer visit with your group, or sharing information about food assistance with a neighbor who may need it.

Help us turn awareness into action for our neighbors by calling 419-224-2086 or visiting www.odbread.org. God bless.

What an honor and privilege it was to help Betty's Bittersweet Farms celebrate their 20th anniversary. We have been one ...
10/09/2026

What an honor and privilege it was to help Betty's Bittersweet Farms celebrate their 20th anniversary. We have been one of their volunteer sites for many years and we always look forward to seeing their participants every Monday. Mondays aren't usually someone's favorite day to go to work but no matter how bad my day might be going seeing them come in the door at 10:30 excited to be at the kitchen and ready to work erases whatever may have put me down. They're just pure joy to work with. God bless.

The cooler days have arrived in northwest Ohio, and your closet may hold exactly what a neighbor needs to stay warm. Cle...
10/06/2026

The cooler days have arrived in northwest Ohio, and your closet may hold exactly what a neighbor needs to stay warm. Clean, gently used jackets, hoodies, hats, gloves, scarves, and blankets are all practical donations right now.

Our clothing room at Our Daily Bread supports men, women, and children, alongside the hot meals and hygiene assistance we offer every weekday. If you're replacing a winter coat or sorting through seasonal storage, those usable items can go to someone who'll wear them this year instead of sitting in a bin.

Please call us at 419-224-2086 or email [email protected] before bringing a large donation so we can help coordinate. God bless.

10/05/2026

With a heavy heart, I am announcing that our wonderful Director, Randy Kimpel, will be retiring on October 30.
Randy has been with Our Daily Bread for nearly 13 years, laying a strong foundation for the many blessings we enjoy today. His dedicated service and leadership have transformed our organization, and we truly cannot thank him enough for everything he has done.

We believe everyone should have the chance to sit down together and share a meal, and we'd love for you to experience th...
09/22/2026

We believe everyone should have the chance to sit down together and share a meal, and we'd love for you to experience that alongside us at least once.

Volunteering at Our Daily Bread can mean serving in the dining room, filling trays on the line, helping with food prep, stocking the pantry, unloading donations, or cleaning up after the meal.

Most days, our volunteers get to choose where they'd like to serve.

Churches, businesses, schools, and service organizations often schedule a morning together, and it's a simple way for a group to see the ministry firsthand.

If you'd like to come serve, please contact us first, especially if you're bringing a group. Call us at 419-224-2086 or visit www.odbread.org/volunteers to get started. God bless.

A good meal should never be out of reach, and at Our Daily Bread it never costs a thing. Our doors on S. Central Avenue ...
09/17/2026

A good meal should never be out of reach, and at Our Daily Bread it never costs a thing. Our doors on S. Central Avenue in downtown Lima are open Monday through Friday, and everyone who walks in is treated as a friend.

If you or someone you know could use a hot lunch this Hunger Action Day, simply come in, sit down, and let us serve you. Our volunteers will greet you with a smile, and you're free to ask about clothing or hygiene items while you're here.

Because our daily schedule can shift, we'd recommend calling ahead for serving times.

Share this post so someone who needs a meal knows where to find a safe place and a friend, or call us at 419-224-2086 or visit www.odbread.org for details. God bless.

This weekend I-AM Ministries will be in the parking lot serving Faith, Food , and Hope. God bless
09/16/2026

This weekend I-AM Ministries will be in the parking lot serving Faith, Food , and Hope. God bless

For some of the friends who join us at Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, the meal we serve is the only hot meal they'll eat ...
09/15/2026

For some of the friends who join us at Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, the meal we serve is the only hot meal they'll eat that day. Others come for the fellowship and a familiar face across the table.

Whatever brings someone through our doors, we greet them as a friend and welcome them to a safe place, a good meal, and hope through Jesus Christ.

You can be part of that this month by sharing our mission with someone new, donating food or funds, keeping our friends in your prayers, or inviting a neighbor to come see what we do right here in Lima.

Help us spread the word about Hunger Action Month. Call us at 419-224-2086 or visit www.odbread.org to find out how you can support the work. God bless.

09/04/2026

Heard this on the way to work this morning, I forgot we taped this back in late July or earlier August. God bless.

Address

125 S Central Avenue PO Box 488
Lima, OH
45801

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm

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