History of ODB

In 2002, what began as a humble initiative in my backyard quickly evolve into a mission to create  meaningful change in our community. The founder, Lea Kyle-Lewis started by hosting sessions  exclusively for girls, offering educational activities and fun outings that not only engaged the participants  but also laid the foundation for a broader vision. Little did she know, these small gatherings would spark a  movement that would grow far beyond the initial expectations. 

After seeing the transformative power of mentorship and community engagement, the founder began to  delve deeper into the underlying social challenges that many families faced. She was particularly moved  by the issues of poverty, limited resources, illiteracy, the impact of single parenting, and unemployment.  The realization led to the birth of Our Daily Bread Community Outreach Center, Inc. (ODB). Initially, our  focus remained on mentoring young girls-a continuation of the work we had started-but it soon expanded  to include a wider array of programs designed to serve the entire community.  

Soon, a community volunteer program and job-training initiatives was introduced that opened up  opportunities for young boys, ensuring that our efforts promoted inclusivity and supported the growth of  all local youth. Understanding that education was key to a brighter future, one of our primary goals  became fostering not only high school graduation among youth but also promoting higher education as  well. Additionally, recognizing the critical need to support vulnerable mothers, we developed a program  specifically for pregnant women. 

This initiative was designed to decrease infant morality rates and provide expecting mothers with  essential resources, including education, housing, employment, and medical support. Today, ODB stands  a testament to the power of grassroots efforts and community commitment. From its modest beginnings in  a backyard to becoming a multifaceted agency, our journey has been fueled by a dedication to nurturing  potential, empowering individuals, and ultimately, transforming lives. We are proud to have helped a  multitude of individuals-both women and men-achieve academic success, including the attainment of  master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and professional certifications. Several of our program participants  have gone on to establish their own for-profit and nonprofit businesses, while one has reached the  milestone of homeownership. 

We continue to be inspired to the success stories emerging from our programs. On young man, once a  participant in our youth initiatives, formed his own hip-hop band. Through his music, he is reaching out to  youth, offering a positive alternative to criminal activity and providing a message of hope and  transformation. In our maternal health and family support services, we’ve made remarkable progressimproving healthy birth outcomes from 80% to an impressive 98%, while also increasing overall maternal health. 

ODB was founded with a heart for service, beginning with just two sponsors and a small crew of  volunteers. What started as a humble effort has grown into a thriving, faith-based nonprofit supported by  dozens of committed sponsors and an ever-expanding team of dedicated board member and volunteers. 

As we expand our programs and partnerships, we remain committed to empowering underserved  communities through education, mentoring, access to health services, and lifestyle support. Our vision is  rooted intransparency, integrity, and excellence. We look forward to continuing this mission with  compassion and impact. 

~Grace