WSFS and Sunday Breakfast Mission Leverage Two-Decade Partnership to Support Those in Need

Founded in 1893, Sunday Breakfast Mission works to serve those experiencing homelessness, addiction and poverty through programs that meet their spiritual, social, and physical needs.

For over a century, people in need have received care through Sunday Breakfast Mission’s ministries, including nightly community meals, overnight shelter, monthly food boxes and more.

WSFS, another storied organization with a history of supporting the community, which traces its own roots back to Wilmington for more than 190 years, has been partnering with Sunday Breakfast Mission for two decades to support those in need.

“Our neighbors, WSFS Bank, have been financially supporting Sunday Breakfast Mission since 2003,” said Rev. Tom Laymon, Senior Pastor/CEO/President at Sunday Breakfast Mission. “Our 20-year partnership has benefited the greater Delaware community by providing more than one million meals through The Great Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored by WSFS Bank.”

“During this special food drive, WSFS invites generous members of the community to deposit nonperishable food into bins located at any WSFS Banking Office,” he added. “This annual three-month drive collects an average of 60,000 lbs. of food for hungry families in Delaware. Donations are being accepted at WSFS Banking Offices until December 31, 2023.”

“We’ve been proud to work alongside Sunday Breakfast Mission for 20 years to provide vital support to our communities,” said Vernita L. Dorsey, Senior Vice President, Director of Community Strategy at WSFS Bank. “Inflation and rising costs continue to impact many households and their ability to put meals on the table and we’re hoping to help combat that by partnering with Sunday Breakfast Mission again on our annual Food Drive. Our Associates and Customers are the best and are always responsive to community needs. We hope this year the collection will increase two-fold through their generous giving.”

In addition to financial support and the annual Food Drive, WSFS has also supported Sunday Breakfast Mission through volunteer initiatives with Team WSFS and in-kind collection drives.

“WSFS continually shows itself to be a great neighbor, even during the pandemic,” said Laymon. “Team WSFS volunteers arrived just in time to help Sunday Breakfast Mission serve children preparing to return to school and to help send the message about the ‘Great Thanksgiving Food Drive.’”

Efforts such as these recently inspired Sunday Breakfast Mission to award WSFS with its inaugural Corporate Action Response and Engagement (CARE) Award.

“The CARE Award aptly describes the efforts of WSFS and its Associates as they personally engage with our community,” said Laymon. “WSFS is the first corporation of its size to earn this distinct award.”

“We’re honored to receive the CARE Award and look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership with Sunday Breakfast Mission to make an impact in our communities,” said Dorsey.

In addition to its efforts to battle food insecurity and more, Sunday Breakfast Mission is also in the midst of a renovation project that will provide resident men in New Life Program, an 18–24-month discipleship program, with new living quarters.

The space, originally Sunday Breakfast Mission’s old thrift store, is being transformed to provide men in the New Life Program with larger private rooms so they can look for work and housing needed for independent living. Renovations expected to be completed in January 2024.