It all started a few years back. I was already volunteering at the Corbett Grange Hall to serve seniors in the Corbett community a free hot meal every Monday for lunch. Dave's Killer Bread donated such an abundance of bread to our Helping Hands food program, that there was enough for me to also share with my church and some needy families in Corbett not able to make it to the grange on a regular basis. Each Saturday I would pick up bread from the grange and then would deliver bread from my Subaru station wagon. Everyone treated me like I was delivering GOLD as the bread was THAT good. Never one for eating bread filled with healthy nuts and grains, I wondered what all the fuss was about. I finally took my first bite. Insane. BEST. BREAD. EVER. Fast forward. I am in Clackamas Costco picking up a few items. I see a Dave's Killer Bread booth. I walk up to get a sample and end up telling the kind folks that I am thrilled to share the bread with others and someday would love to "actually meet this Dave guy." They laughed and told me to turn around. There was Dave, leaning up against a display of green beans or something. I smiled at him and he returned the gesture. We ended up talking at least 20 minutes, and exchanged business cards. I walked away thinking he was one of the MOST down to earth and authentic people I had ever met. In my line of work, I meet a variety of people on a regular basis. I came home and told my husband about the encounter. He laughingly said I should invite him to lunch at the Grange with all my senior friends. I thought- "Why not? Nothing to lose." Both he and his fiance, Michelle came a few weeks later- all the way out to Corbett just to meet my friends and have lunch with us. He brought everyone a fresh "Sin Dawg" and sat and talked for a long time with everyone at the grange, engaging and sharing bits of his life and struggles and hearing also about theirs. Dave and I continued to stay in touch, and one of the seniors there that day invited him to his home for dinner. Dave CAME and so did some of his friends. I also was invited, with my husband. After dinner, Dave and friends played guitar and talked into the night about life. Dave continued to be very open about his struggles with depression and addictions, wanting to reach out to others and also
help them. When I saw Dave in the news for the recent incident, I was pretty shocked at how rude and judgemental some folks were being - without even knowing him or the facts of his struggles. Personally struggling with depression myself for years, it is really unsettling that people choose not to better understand, but to be harsh and judge. No matter where Dave lays his head at night, I KNOW him to be one of the kindest, most generous and most
authentic people I know.
