The initiative began when congregation member Leo Canfield developed a partnership with a bakery distributor to give away bread that hadn’t been sold by its sell date.
At first the endeavor featured six church volunteers passing out bread to about 30 needy people. By the end of last year more than 1,300 people were being served by 119 volunteers. Through additional donations, the ministry has been able to serve a hot meal to those participating in the monthly bread giveaway.
The Tapalot (means love in the Miami language) program has grown to where Canfield delivers a truckload of bakery products every month to the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana in Peru.
The Census Bureau reports that about 60,000 Native Americans reside in Indiana.
The church, 2560 Villa Ave., will celebrate the program’s second anniversary by distributing free bread to anyone who shows up from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 11.