When Jean Wu moved with her family from Mill Creek to Mays Pond, she wanted to find a way to meet her neighbors and build community. “When I moved here, I felt a little out of place and wanted to engage with my neighbors,” Jean says, “and I began to wonder 'how do I enter into this new space in a meaningful way?'” That question launched her on a personal journey of readying her heart to be of service to her community.

Several months later, an unusual opportunity presented itself when a former neighbor asked Jean if she would like to share food with her neighbors. The food offered are “rescued” foods leftover from stores’ donations. “It started with six boxes of bread in my driveway with my son waving a 'free bread' sign to passing neighbors,” Jean explains. “As more and more neighbors started visiting, the offerings grew to include different types of breads, and sometimes miscellaneous produce like tomatoes, apples, and bagged salads.” 

Organically, the gathering of neighbors grew weekly and Jean soon found her little driveway pop-up stand serving approximately 40 families with 400-800 pounds of food. She created a Facebook group, aptly named “The Bread Booth”. Neighbors would eagerly gather to share news about their week as they shopped from the boxes of food. They chatted about how they would use the food offered. Over time, it was common to hear folks checking in with each other on how life was going or offering to bring food to someone who could not make it. As this weekly gathering grew, Jean says,  “It became a simple yet beautiful way of living out community.” 

In October 2020, a regular at her pop-up food bank introduced Jean to a pastor from Venture Church of Mill Creek who invited her to use the church’s parking lot to share food. And so, The Bread Booth grew, finding its weekly rhythm every Monday evening from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. The food is offered up in a farmer's market-style shopping format. Since all the food items are rescued very close to the pop-up day, Jean cannot guarantee or know what is offered until The Bread Booth pops up. Typically the offerings include seasonal fruit and vegetables, sometimes frozen meat and plant-based protein, side salads, cheese or milk-based products, and desserts. 

Unlike a food bank where there may be a qualifying process, there are no restrictions on who can shop at The Bread Booth. Jean does prefer folks who come to be living within a 3- to 5-mile radius as she does not want people to travel too far for food. As Jean shares, “All we ask is that you take a little extra to share with your neighbors, friends, or colleagues. We believe in spreading kindness through food, encouraging generosity, and building community.” 

The Bread Booth collects food from various sources including co-ops, food manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. The group is committed to rescuing foods that are still edible, keeping it out of landfills and sharing it with those in need in the local community. “There's so much food in our country, and even organizations caring for those facing food insecurity have surplus. Our dedicated volunteers rescue food after various distribution events and bring it to The Bread Booth to give it one last chance,” Jean says. “Franz Bakery Outlet has been so generous with sharing their leftovers with us for our Monday evening. We also have a healthy relationship with the Mill Creek food bank. They even donated a freezer to us when they were able to get a better one for themselves. This was an extremely kind and generous gift.”

For Jean, creating and developing The Bread Booth has brought connections for which she is incredibly grateful. “We have earned the trust of established organizations like the Volunteers of America, Farmer Frog, and INSP,” she says. “And locally, in Mill Creek our partners include Project Serve, Venture Church, North Creek Presbyterian Church, Imprint Church, the North Creek Rotary Club, Panera Bread in Bothell, Community Resource Network, and Franz Bakery Outlet.”

“Our volunteers are so dedicated and generous with their time,” Jean says. “It is demanding work in all weather. We are here every Monday year round. Yet every week we have at least a dozen volunteers here and sometimes as many as 18.” Before they begin volunteering, Jean insists volunteers go through the shopping line to shop for food. It is important to her that volunteers understand the experience involves not just giving, but also receiving. She wants new volunteers to pay attention to how volunteers interact with shoppers explaining, “Volunteers are in no way superior or elevated: we are sharing food on the same plane as neighbors, building community together.” Heart posture matters. It is an important practice when volunteering at The Bread Booth. 

As Jean continues, “Sharing food, gathering regularly, befriending one another, and encouraging generosity is how we strengthen community.” Over the past six years The Bread Booth has witnessed friendship reconnections, sparked new friendships, walked alongside neighbors through cancer treatment, lost jobs, and family challenges, and has celebrated many birthdays and even watched little babies grow up to go to kindergarten. 

"It is incredible to see how the simple act of sharing food with the right heart can lead to fostering life-flourishing relationships and connections,” Jean concludes. "With our partners and volunteers, The Bread Booth’s mission is to connect people with food and to love others well.”