Amy Garno

Staff Writer

Adrian, Mich. – Ken Freshcorn is a familiar face that is associated with The Daily Bread (TDB) almost since opening in June of 2005.  TDB is a local soup kitchen and pantry on the corner of Frank and Tecumseh streets that serves the needs of the local people of Lenawee County and the surrounding area.   He is the pantry coordinator along with serving the patrons lunch in the dining room, mowing the lawn, cleaning tables and being a friend to the patrons.

Freshcorn was picked up for DUI and awaiting sentencing when he pleaded with his attorney to keep him out of jail.  “I knew what I did was wrong and would do anything to pay for what I did but please, not jail! The only alternative my attorney could come up with was 250 hours of community service and a $7,000.00 fine.   When he told me that I could possibly serve time in a local soup kitchen, I agreed.”

After Freshcorn completed the community service hours, his attorney told him that he served his time and he didn’t have to continue.  The trouble was, Freshcorn enjoyed it.  He liked seeing the people light up as they came in the door and he was there to serve them.  He could tell that not only were they benefiting from The Daily Bread but he was too.

“The people here are like family to me now.  They need help and I am in a position to help them.  Many of them lost their jobs or have physical problems.  Some are single moms with kids.  I sometimes take them to doctor’s appointments or help them with things around their homes.  If I can make them laugh, to take their minds off their problems for five minutes, it’s worth it.”

Freshcorn first realized that he was an alcoholic when he was picked up for DUI and was ordered to go to AA meetings after the judge told him that he was an alcoholic.   He went to the meetings twice a day for one year, then once a day for two years.   “I didn’t know why since I didn’t think I had a problem. I finally saw it when I started going through withdrawals when I wasn’t drinking.  I was on an emotional roller coaster and it got pretty bad at times.”

Freshcorn worked at Boysville in Clinton, Michigan, as a dorm counselor for eighteen years.   When he retired he would go downtown for comradery at the local bars.  He started out eating dinner and having a few beers.  Then he began drinking more and more until it got out of control.

“I just didn’t care any more about anything.  I had three rental properties in town and I lost all of them.  I made a lot of bad decisions that cost me.  I cried out to God to save me from this life of addiction that I wasn’t able to handle on my own. One night I went to a local church, the pastor asked if anyone wanted to give their heart to the Lord.  I went up in front and the pastor laid hands on me and prayed. God came into my heart and changed me! I really felt the Holy Spirit bubbling out of me.  I never experienced this before so I was afraid.  I now know that God’s Holy Spirit leads me every day so I don’t need to be afraid.  I have His peace and His strength to do what He has called me to do.”

“When I came to TDB and started serving others, I realized everything wasn’t about me.  There are others out there that need help and now I have a purpose.  I feel very blessed to be on the right path.  TDB has kept me out of the bars and the whole lifestyle that went along with it.  Being at TDB is my way of giving back to the community.”

Freshcorn loves it when volunteers from SHU come in to help serve lunch to the patrons.  As part of Jeff Lindstom’s Social Psychology class, students volunteer their time to get a taste of what it’s like to be hungry or homeless.  “The patrons are so happy to have the students come in and serve them.  They like talking to them and telling them their stories.  They need friends.  I think it’s a two-way street; the patrons need to know there are people that really care about helping them and the students need to know first- hand that there are people close by that really are in need for their basic necessities, like food and friendship.  SHU is our biggest contributor every year.  With each food drive the amount increases.  They always spread the word in the community so others ask, “What can I do to help?”

Many people that volunteer at TDB come back and serve again.  Rhonda Clark, the Executive Director of TDB, keeps a schedule of those in the community that sign up to serve lunch.  When they come in for the first time, they usually don’t know what to expect.  After talking to the patrons and hearing their stories, they many times develop a special connection.  The atmosphere here is one of warmth and compassion.”

Freshcorn can’t see spending his time any other way.  “There will always be people coming in here for help, for whatever reason, it doesn’t matter how or why.  What we can do is show them love and compassion by filling some of their needs”