NonProfit of the Month: Our Daily Bread
Jenna Edwards, Development Director of Our Daily Bread, knows firsthand that a warm meal and a safe place to rest can change someone’s life. For 25 years, Our Daily Bread has served as a lifeline to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes in Denton County.
Founded in 2000 as a collaboration among local churches, Our Daily Bread began with one simple mission — to feed those in need. That purpose quickly grew. In 2009, Monsignor Charles King, witnessing the urgent need for shelter during a freezing winter, opened his church to offer emergency overnight stays. This compassionate act became the foundation for the Monsignor King Outreach Center.
Over time, the two organizations expanded beyond food and emergency shelter to provide comprehensive services that address the root causes of homelessness. In 2020, they merged to create one unified nonprofit with a shared mission — to feed, shelter, and care for the homeless and at-risk in the community while preserving their dignity and creating opportunities
for a new start.
This unified vision reached a milestone on December 12, 2022, when Our Daily Bread opened Denton County’s only 24/7 low-barrier homelessness care center in partnership with the City of Denton. This facility eliminated many of the barriers guests often face — such as strict entry requirements and lack of coordinated services — and brought food, shelter, and wraparound care under one roof.
Every day, Our Daily Bread provides a broad range of resources to help guests survive, heal, and work toward long-term stability. The organization prepares over 700 meals daily, offering breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner to anyone who needs nourishment. Their emergency shelter provides overnight stays for up to 120 individuals on a week-by-week basis, while their transitional shelter program gives 56 guests access to personalized case management as they work toward permanent housing.
Guests visiting the Day Shelter can take showers, do laundry, pick up hygiene supplies, use phones and computers, and participate in enrichment programs like resume building and job search support. A robust wellness center offers prescription assistance, health screenings, eye exams, mammograms, and mental health support through individual counseling and crisis intervention.
Specialized programs ensure that veterans receive help navigating benefits and housing resources, while the Ready for Work Program provides job readiness training, paid transitional work opportunities, and classroom instruction to help guests overcome barriers to employment. In collaboration with the Texas Workforce Commission, a branch of this program is dedicated to supporting individuals with physical or mental disabilities as they re-enter the workforce.
One of the most important aspects of Our Daily Bread is its low-barrier approach. Unlike many shelters, guests are not required to show ID, undergo background checks, or maintain sobriety to receive help. Pets are welcome, and services are accessible to anyone in need. This model reflects a core belief — if someone feels safe and respected, they are more likely to accept help when they are ready.
However, rising demand has presented new challenges. This year’s Point-In-Time Count revealed that homelessness in Denton County has increased by
33% since 2024. As the number of guests grows, so does the need for expanded services.
To meet this challenge, Our Daily Bread is transitioning to a housing-focused shelter model beginning September 1. Under this model, the transitional shelter program will grow from 56 to 120 beds, providing every guest with individualized case management, job support, medical coordination, and mental health care resources. While overnight emergency shelter will still be available during inclement weather, the transitional program will become the main pathway for those seeking long-term help.
Some services, such as breakfast, ID procurement, transportation assistance, laundry, and day shelter case management, will end August 1 as the organization concentrates resources on housing-focused support. Day Shelter hours will remain daily from 10 am – 7 pm, offering meals, hygiene services, and enrichment activities.
Last year alone, Our Daily Bread helped 136 people transition into permanent housing. With the new model, they expect to more than double that number. As Jenna shared, “We believe in this community, we believe in the power of transformation, and we believe this next chapter will be our most impactful yet.”
To learn more about Our Daily Bread, volunteer, or make a donation to support their mission:
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @OurDailyBreadDenton
For more information, call 940-566-1308 or email info@OurDailyBreadDenton.org
