Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 4, 2020 Reflections from the Director Bread of Life celebrates its 40th anniversary A s Bread of Life celebrates its 40th anniversary, 19802020, I’ve been thinking about how my own story intertwines with that of BOL. I took a job at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution fresh out of college, determined to make a career in opera while working as a research technician. A few years later, as I was about to move to the Boston area to be closer to the musical action, I attended a presentation at my church by a woman who was about to become the Minister of Missions at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Malden. Part of her work would be to oversee a new ministry the church had begun to the hungry and homeless. I knew instantly that I wanted to be part of that church and I soon was on the Missions Committee. Meanwhile, I realized that my work in the lab was not using my gifts and passions. I started praying about what work God might be leading me to do. I was drawn to the idea of working oversees in a refugee camp, but it became clear to me that I was too young and inexperienced to have much to offer people in that desperate situation. I needed to stay put and learn a few things. I started volunteering and doing some sub work at the Pine Street Inn in Boston. Then, in 1988 Tri-City Community Action Program created the position of Homeless Advocate to work at WIN | FROM PAGE 9 Markey recalled his Malden roots, including the very library where he studied “until they turned off the lights” while attending Boston College and then Boston College Law School, his parents “sitting at the kitchen table [in Edgeworth] trying to figure out how to pay the bills.” The Senator also had positive words for his opponent in the hard-fought campaign, Joe Kennedy. “I look forward to working closely with Joe Kennedy to help move Massachusetts and this nation forward,” Markey said. Markey noted the advancement of his Progressive movement in this campaign. “The progressive movement knows how to fight. We will not surrender,” Markey said in his victory speech. “We made it clear that we’d rather lose fighting as hard as we could for what we believe in than in finding the middle ground.” He added, “The time to be timid is past. The age of incrementalism is over. Now is our moment to think big and take bold and urgent action. This is what this election is all about. “Young people not afraid to raise their voices” Markey praised his supporters around the state, particularly the young people who followed him from the outset and whose numbers grew as the race went on. “Our movement is fueled by young people who are not afraid to raise their voices or make enemies,” he said. “Tonight’s victory is a tribute to those young people and to their vision. They will save us if we trust them and I do.” In announcing a run for Senate, Kennedy had to forgo a reelection campaign for Congress. Speculation is that the other incumbent, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, would be a coveted appointee to a Cabinet position, possibly Education Secretary, if Democrat Joe Biden is elected President in November. That would force a Special Election to fill her seat, which Kennedy could pursue, though other speculation is that he might face off in another tough race, this time against a potential candidate, such as Congresswoman Ayana Press Deborah Fallon campaigned for State Rep. Paul Donato while former Mayor Richard Howard (’96 to ’12) campaigned for U.S. Senator Ed Markey in front of the Beebe School. A Ward 4 voter walks into the John and Christina Markey Malden Senior Community Center on Tuesday afternoon. City receives $225K in federal funding for new fire equipment M alden was recently awarded $225,000 in federal grants for the Malden Fire Department. The funding, which was awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S) programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will provide funds for the purchase of new portable radios and fire and arson investigation equipment. The award of these grants was made possible by the cooperation and advocacy of Malden’s state and federal delegations throughout FEMA’s grant process. “With most folks at home, we’ve seen higher call rates for emergencies, and it’s more important now than ever that our emergency services have the resources they need,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “I’m proud to have worked with our federal delegation to win these funds for the equipment Malden’s firefighters need to stay safe while they continue to save lives and serve our city.” the St. Paul’s evening meal, the ministry that eventually became Bread of Life. It seemed too good to be true. It was the exact fit for a saying of Jesus that tugged at my conscience: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Matthew 25:35. I applied for the job and was interviewed by TriCAP staff and by Tom Feagley, the ministry director. Amazingly, they hired me! To this day, I see that call to be the greatest miraculous intervention of God in my life. I became a fellow pilgrim with Tom and many, many other loving people with hearts broken by what breaks God’s heart: poverty, hunger, homelessness, injustice, violence, neglect, loneliness. As we work to build our Under One Roof multi-purpose facility to serve more neighbors well into the future, I’m forever grateful to do this work feeding, advocating, coming alongside, and loving people just like me who are going through hard and lonely places in their lives. And I’m forever grateful for fellow pilgrims like you on the journey. May God bless Bread of Life with another 40 years and beyond! And may God bless each of you. Gabriella Snyder Stelmack Executive Director This is what this moment demands.” Malden Goes To The Polls (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Making it a family affair, father Robert, wife, Catherine, and daughter, Raquel Knox, wear their “I Voted” stickers. Voter Michael Nunley said U.S. Senator Ed Markey has been a strong advocate for years. State Rep. Paul Donato campaigned in front of the Beebe School. Gene and Cheryl Cadeau said they cast their vote for U.S. Senator Ed Markey for his stance on liberal issues, his trustworthiness and his locality. State Rep. Paul Donato’s son, Paul Donato, Jr., and Francis Phillips Jr. gave out slush from their car.
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