Historic Street GiveAways 1982-2005

1982-1984 Emerson Ave & Broadway St (in front of  First Bank), Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday & Saturday
11:00am-1:00pm

1984-1985 Emerson Ave & Broadway St (in front of the Indian Church across the street from First Bank), Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday & Saturday
11:00am-1:00pm

1985-1992 Dupont Ave & 18th St (behind D.A.V Disabled American Veterans Store), Minneapolis, MN
Saturday
11:00am-1:00pm

1986-1990 Selby Ave & Dale St (in the empty lot), St Paul, MN
Wednesday
11:00am-1:00pm

1991-1994 Selby Ave & Victoria St (in the empty lot), St Paul, MN
Wednesday
11:00am-1:00pm

1992-1994 15th Ave & 24th St (in the empty lot), Minneapolis, MN
Friday
12:00-2:00pm

1995-2005 Pastor Paul's Mission 1000 Oliver Ave & Oak Park St (in parking lot), Minneapolis, MN
Tuesday then Thursday
12:00-1:30pm

The Black Bread Van, a converted delivery van, custom painted with scriptures, Disciples Ministry logo red & orange flames, is filled with bags of day old bread. It pulls up to the corners of Broadway & Emerson Ave in north Minneapolis to a crowd's anticipation. Pastor Paul and his eight full time volunteers begin to unpack the bread bags, put up the fencing, greet the people waiting with smiles and hellos. Within a couple of hours hundreds will go home with enough bread, sweets and rolls to supplement their food needs for the week until next Saturday when Pastor Paul comes to them again.

In the not too distant future, the Black Bread Van is traded for a converted Green School Bus and removed the seats, insulated from top to bottom with foam covering the windows; an air conditioner is plugged in for refrigeration. Soon the Green School Bus is traded for a 24ft Mack straight truck with reefer. And finally, the Mack straight truck is traded for an International tractor and Semi-Trailer. These vehicle metamorphisms are analogous to the changes the ministry is experiencing. What a ride it was!

Back in 1982, Pastor Paul and his evangelical church members look forward to the many Saturday Bread Run's that will be the beginning of one of the greatest missions in North Minneapolis and Minnesota. The distribution of bread will be eclipsed by semi-truck loads of vegetables, fruits, potatoes, dairy products, and juice. The Bread Run twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday will serve hundreds weekly. The length of one city block is not an unusual sight composed of all sorts of folks, seniors on a fixed income, young families trying to pull together enough money for rent, disabled veterans who are unable to work and even children who get bread to take home for Mom who no doubt is taking care of small children. In the not so distant future, children will be adults who have children. Pastor Paul is a familiar friend to generations.

Some people standing in the bread lines were secure until they lost a job by company relocation or a down turn in the economy where a lay-off could not be avoided. Fixed income is another economic hazard when unexpected expenses come your way like needing a new furnace or plumbing problems. And then there are those accidents, car accidents, houses that burn to the ground or God forbid an unexpected death in the family can change many an economic picture for the worst. Some lose jobs and cannot get rehired because they lack marketable skills or behavioral deficiencies. For them the bottom has dropped out.