 (We are deeply saddened to note that Ted Pringle has passed away. Read our notes of remembrance here and here.)
Ted Pringle grew up in Southeast DC. After graduating from high school he was in the military for twelve years. For three years, he worked on an aircraft carrier: “I’ve been to maybe 12-14 different countries in the last 40 years.” Ted has been married since 1994, and has three children, five grandsons, one granddaughter, and two great-grandsons. Ted was hired at Bread for the City in 1992. “They had a position open in clothing which I came to apply for, but they said I was overqualified for it. But they had a small site in Adams Morgan that they wanted to expand, but they couldn’t find anyone to work there so they decided to make it a full-time position. My job was to come in and make it a workable site. It was terrible, it didn’t even have a bathroom. I had to come in and clean it, paint it, put in a bathroom, solicit volunteers… that’s where it got started. So they figured, ‘Well, this guy can do some things.’” Ted was promoted to Director of Food and Clothing in 1996. “When we started we had maybe 300-400 clients. Now we’re helping almost 5,000 each month between both centers.” Why does Ted like working at Bread for the City? “I have fun here. Even with the craziness and the stuff that goes on, I have a lot of fun with my staff… we work well together, we get along. You see what you’re doing; you see how it affects our clients. I just love it. I like being here, I love the staff here. I kind of grew up with the people who come here, and people grew up with me. I met people here in 1992 that had no kids, and now they have kids and grandkids. It’s like a second home, more or less.” Read more about how Ted Pringle is working to make BFC’s food program more nutritious. “In 1986 I came to volunteer at the NW Center when it was on 14th Street, helping with the food and clothing departments. I was hired in 1990. It’s a good place to work… we do good things for people.” “I first came to Bread for the City through Americorps in 1995. One of our jobs was to volunteer and so we went to a lot of different food pantries. And the whole team—probably about 23 of us – we fell in love with Bread for the City. We worked here three days through the week. They asked if anyone wanted to work Saturdays, and I said “Oh yeah, I’ll work Saturdays!” Because I was waiting for a job. I was just getting my life back together. And with three children… “I was thinking, oh my God, this is going to be terrible, working so much. But it turned out to be such a blessing. “I fell in love with Mr. Pringle [Director of Food & Clothing]. He was good at directing us…. he was like a gentle giant, like this big teddy bear, but when he spoke he spoke with authority. But it wasn’t harsh words, it was still good and he still gave you a sense of “Look, you’re here to do a service. You’re helping people. You either help them, or you just please leave right now.” “And I thought, ‘There’s something about that man, I like the way he’s treating us. He makes us feel like we’re somebody.’ Most of us came from a drug past, or abuse, or sickness… all kinds of people working on our team at Americorps. “Bread for the City gave me my strength back. And it gave me a good sense of life skills, to see so many different cultures coming together and getting along. Working together to reach out and help somebody. “I stepped in another dimension when I walked in this door. I have grown… even as an adult and as a parent, I’ve grown. It touches my heart. This is my passion, my heart, my everything.” 
“My mother-in-law used to work here, and she would tell me about Ted. She wanted me to get my life together, and she told me to give him a call. “I like to help people. You work here and you find you do a whole lot of helping people. Food, clothing, anything I can help them with. It’s a nice place to work.” Tony grew up in Southeast DC. In November of 2003 he was working in construction, and worked on a temporary basis at Bread for the City’s Southeast center during the busy holiday season. He was hired as a full-time employee in January of 2004. With BFC’s support, Tony recently became a Certified Addictions Counselor. He has worked with Sharlene Blount and Lynda Brown at the Southeast Center to set up weekend Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Tony says: “I’ve seen a lot of people who are suffering.” “From the beginning it’s been a good opportunity and a blessing to work here,” says Tony. “To have a job where I can help people feels good. Working at a food pantry has really opened my eyes – to things I already knew on some level. It opened my heart to be able to help other people less fortunate that I am. It’s also been a springboard as to which way I want to go. I’ve learned that my calling is to help others. This job has helped me, as well. Our motto says a lot – dignity and respect. Show others they can rise above… Everything is possible.”
|