Our History


The History of the Bread of Life Mission
1939- Present Day

Establishing the Mission

January 1939
Towards the end of The Great Depression, Mavel Sherman started the Bread of Life Mission in a building on the corner of Washington and Occidental Street in downtown Seattle. The first year was filled with challenges, including a week-long closure due to shortage of funds and problems with Mavel Sherman’s health.

October, 1939
After nine months of starting the Mission, and Mavel Sherman asked Jennie Conrad to take over as the Director of the Bread of Life Mission. Jennie Conrad agreed and accepted the position in October 1939. She served in that position for the next 35 years. Ms. Conrad began her social work with the Salvation Army and worked throughout the United States before she came to the Bread of Life Mission. During her time at the Mission, she met and married Jack O’Hara, a new Christian who came to the BOLM looking for assistance. He was eventually ordained as a minister and served as the mission’s co-Director for eighteen years.

1942-1945
Jennie and Rev. Jack O’Hara purchased a home in 1942 that was a subsidiary of the Bread of Life Mission and a place for participants in the program to live during in their rehabilitation. A building committee was appointed in 1944. The committee stepped out in faith by making a payment of $1,000 for the building on the corner of 1st Ave and South Main, which remain the present home of the Bread of Life Mission. The Mission drew financial support from three principal sources–rent from the hotel rooms in the building, offerings at the Mission’s services, and donations from sponsors.

1945 – 2009
While building and maintaining the Mission’s programs, the first recorded board meeting was March 15th, 1945 and began with three board members. In 1971, the number grew from three to nine. Today, the board ranges in number from nine members to twelve. In 2003, the Heroes Catering/Box Lunch transitional program was launched. Heroes Catering provides economic support, offers job skills training, helps rebuild self-worth, and offers spiritual and emotional support in order to empower men and women to break the cycle of homelessness and transition back into mainstream living.

Present Day
The Mission continues to provide temporary facilities, a bed, food clothing, and a safe environment for those who are in need. The Mission reaches beyond the physical needs by offering an opportunity to make a life-changing decision to accept Jesus Christ. The Mission is interdenominational and is supported entirely by individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations that believe in giving hope to Seattle’s homeless. The Mission is an integral part of the historic Pioneer Square district in downtown Seattle and partners with many local organizations to bring improvements to the whole community.

A Look at the Tomorrow
The Bread of Life Mission has a dedicated staff, Executive Director and Board of Directors who are committed to living according to the Gospel by being actively involved in the Pioneer Square community. The future goals of the Bread of Life Mission are as follows:

  1. Grow our recovery program in an off-site location
  2. Open a Women’s Recovery Center, based on the Mission’s current model.
  3. Promote the Heroes Subs Catering program in order to support the men and women who work at Heroes and are in transition.
  4. Increase information channels so that donors and volunteers are aware of the positive impact of their contributions.
The History of the Bread of Life Mission
1939- Present Day
Establishing the Mission
January 1939
Towards the end of The Great Depression, Mavel Sherman started the Bread of Life Mission in a building on the corner of Washington and Occidental Street in downtown Seattle. The first year was filled with challenges, including a week-long closure due to shortage of funds and problems with Mavel Sherman’s health.
October, 1939
After nine months of starting the Mission, and Mavel Sherman asked Jennie Conrad to take over as the Director of the Bread of Life Mission. Jennie Conrad agreed and accepted the position in October 1939. She served in that position for the next 35 years. Ms. Conrad began her social work with the Salvation Army and worked throughout the United States before she came to the Bread of Life Mission. During her time at the Mission, she met and married Jack O’Hara, a new Christian who came to the BOLM looking for assistance. He was eventually ordained as a minister and served as the mission’s co-Director for eighteen years.
1942-1945
Jennie and Rev. Jack O’Hara purchased a home in 1942 that was a subsidiary of the Bread of Life Mission and a place for participants in the program to live during in their rehabilitation. A building committee was appointed in 1944. The committee stepped out in faith by making a payment of $1,000 for the building on the corner of 1st Ave and South Main, which remain the present home of the Bread of Life Mission. The Mission drew financial support from three principal sources–rent from the hotel rooms in the building, offerings at the Mission’s services, and donations from sponsors.
1945 – 2009
While building and maintaining the Mission’s programs, the first recorded board meeting was March 15th, 1945 and began with three board members. In 1971, the number grew from three to nine. Today, the board ranges in number from nine members to twelve. In 2003, the Heroes Catering/Box Lunch transitional program was launched. Heroes Catering provides economic support, offers job skills training, helps rebuild self-worth, and offers spiritual and emotional support in order to empower men and women to break the cycle of homelessness and transition back into mainstream living.
Present Day
The Mission continues to provide temporary facilities, a bed, food clothing, and a safe environment for those who are in need. The Mission reaches beyond the physical needs by offering an opportunity to make a life-changing decision to accept Jesus Christ. The Mission is interdenominational and is supported entirely by individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations that believe in giving hope to Seattle’s homeless. The Mission is an integral part of the historic Pioneer Square district in downtown Seattle and partners with many local organizations to bring improvements to the whole community. 

A Look at the Tomorrow
The Bread of Life Mission has a dedicated staff, Executive Director and Board of Directors who are committed to living according to the Gospel by being actively involved in the Pioneer Square community. The future goals of the Bread of Life Mission are as follows:
1) Grow our recovery program in an off-site location
2) Open a Women’s Recovery Center, based on the Mission’s current model. 
3) Promote the Heroes Subs Catering program in order to support the men and women who work at Heroes and are in transition. 
4) Increase information channels so that donors and volunteers are aware of the positive impact of their contributions.