St. Luke's has been supporting the mission of Loaves & Fishes (L&F) for many years. The L&F mission is: "To provide healthy meals to Minnesotans in areas where need is greatest". L&F is guided by their vision that all people, regardless of socioeconomic, cultural, religious, or ethnic background, deserve to meet their basic needs for food, dignity and respect. There are no questions asked or requirements to meet to receive a meal.
As an organization, L&F provides help to meet the community challenges of:
Food Insecurity & Hunger
Poverty & Homelessness
Aging Population & Isolation
Food-Related Health Conditions
Their free meal program was founded in 1982 with one dining site each in Minneapolis (St. Stephen's) and St. Paul (Dorothy Day Center). Today, they are providing thousands of meals daily, are present across Minnesota, and are the largest open to the public free meal program in the state. While staying true to their core mission of serving home-cooked meals daily at dining site locations, they have strategically cultivated new initiatives, supported by their expanding food rescue operation and an ever-increasing number of pounds harvested at their own local farm and gardens. They began bringing meals to those who are hungry but couldn't get to one of their dining sites in 2015. Today, their street outreach delivers almost 500,000 meals annually to people found on the urban streets of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
L&F serves the 7-County Metro area with 29 dining locations and 6 greater MN dining locations. The third Wednesday of the month, St. Luke's has the opportunity to meet our Mission of Making Christ Known by serving at their Hope Presbyterian Church location in Richfield. This site provides a meal M-F 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. We provide the food, prepare the meal, serve the meal and clean up after. Since COVID-19, this site has been a drive-up service. Meals are provided in take-home containers.
The annual St. Luke's Poinsettia Christmas purchase is a fundraiser to support our work with L&F's. Those funds and any other dedicated L&F donations at church go to supporting these meals. Before COVID-19, on our Wednesday of service we served on average 75-85 people. Once COVID-19 hit our numbers went up to 150 or more. Currently around 130 people are served a hot meal by St. Luke's each month (greater than 1500 meals a year). There has been a number of dedicated volunteers from St. Luke's over the years helping to provide this Mission outreach and I am thankful for each one of them.
Blessings,
The St. Luke's Missions Team
As an organization, L&F provides help to meet the community challenges of:
Food Insecurity & Hunger
Poverty & Homelessness
Aging Population & Isolation
Food-Related Health Conditions
Their free meal program was founded in 1982 with one dining site each in Minneapolis (St. Stephen's) and St. Paul (Dorothy Day Center). Today, they are providing thousands of meals daily, are present across Minnesota, and are the largest open to the public free meal program in the state. While staying true to their core mission of serving home-cooked meals daily at dining site locations, they have strategically cultivated new initiatives, supported by their expanding food rescue operation and an ever-increasing number of pounds harvested at their own local farm and gardens. They began bringing meals to those who are hungry but couldn't get to one of their dining sites in 2015. Today, their street outreach delivers almost 500,000 meals annually to people found on the urban streets of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
L&F serves the 7-County Metro area with 29 dining locations and 6 greater MN dining locations. The third Wednesday of the month, St. Luke's has the opportunity to meet our Mission of Making Christ Known by serving at their Hope Presbyterian Church location in Richfield. This site provides a meal M-F 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. We provide the food, prepare the meal, serve the meal and clean up after. Since COVID-19, this site has been a drive-up service. Meals are provided in take-home containers.
The annual St. Luke's Poinsettia Christmas purchase is a fundraiser to support our work with L&F's. Those funds and any other dedicated L&F donations at church go to supporting these meals. Before COVID-19, on our Wednesday of service we served on average 75-85 people. Once COVID-19 hit our numbers went up to 150 or more. Currently around 130 people are served a hot meal by St. Luke's each month (greater than 1500 meals a year). There has been a number of dedicated volunteers from St. Luke's over the years helping to provide this Mission outreach and I am thankful for each one of them.
Blessings,
The St. Luke's Missions Team