Shared Bread Program Puts On Dinners For The Homeless

As part of KPCC's month-long "Season's Givings" series, Susan Valot profiles the "Shared Bread" program in Redondo Beach. It uses donated goods to put on dinners for the homeless.

Susan Valot: I'm Susan Valot with "Season's Givings."

Carlene Thune: My name is Carlene Thune. This is Bob. He's my husband. (laughs)

Valot: Carlene and Bob roll a creaky cart through the Torrance Farmer's Market, picking up leftover produce.

[Sounds of farmer's market interactions]

Valot: They're with a group of volunteers that put on a weekly dinner for the homeless. Bob says Shared Bread started at the First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach 15 years ago.

Bob Thune: We found a homeless person dead on our property. And that just kinda got everybody to thinking, you know, this is really a pretty serious problem, and what can we do about it?

Carlene Thune: And so we just all got together and said, "Hey, let's get us a program. Let's just do it." And so we started that way, and then it just (makes a rocket taking off sound).

Valot: The volunteers hit stores in the farmer's market each week to make the dinner.

Bob Thune: We kinda know who gives you stuff and, uh, I don't stop and beg. I just–
Carlene Thune: No, we don't ask, "Don't you have any?" If they say, if they say– They do this. If they flag us down, we take it.

Woman at farmer's market: Is that your red truck?
Carlene Thune: That little red truck? Yes, ma'am.
Woman at farmer's market: I'm gonna put some kiwis right there.

Valot: Carlene says Shared Bread is really a community program.

Carlene Thune: We don't preach and pray. We just sit 'em down with dignity and serve 'em.

Valot: And she says the interaction with volunteers is just as important as the food.

Farmer's market vendor: There you go!
Bob Thune: All right. Thank you!
Vendor: You're welcome!

Valot: Shared Bread serves 5,000 homeless meals each year.

Carlene Thune: You come in and say, "I'd like to help." Honey, they'll give you an apron and put you to work!

Bob Thune: Sometimes you wonder if you're really helping, but I think overall we are. And, uh, sadly you see some of the same faces for years on end, and that's– you'd like that to change, but that's beyond our capacity to do it.