FAQS
How many people does Community Lunch serve?
Community Lunch serves an average of 200 full hot meals each Monday through Friday at All Pilgrims Church. Community Lunch served over 90,000 meals last year.
Who qualifies to eat at Community Lunch?
Everyone is welcome to eat at Community Lunch. Our meals are always free and open to all with no sign-in or other requirements.
Who does Community Lunch serve?
About 60% of guests are homeless and 40% are low income. Our surveys indicate that about 15% of guests at each meal have not eaten with us before.
How long has Community Lunch existed?
Community Lunch began serving lunch over 30 years ago on January 3rd, 1985. It was formed by a group of Lutheran churches known as the Cooperative Community Lunch, and they served just 10 people at the first meal. Community Lunch became a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2003.
How many staff members does Community Lunch have?
Community Lunch has a small team of around 4 part-time and 2 full-time staff. We are able to maintain a small team because of the hard work of our over 2,000 annual volunteers who show up every day to prepare, cook, and serve meals alongside our team.
Where does Community Lunch get its food from?
Most food is donated from food distributors, grocery stores and restaurants. Each year, Community Lunch recovers tons of high-quality food from restaurants and supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste. We also receive produce and bread from the Capitol Hill Farmers Market. Community Lunch has a van and driver responsible for coordinating donations.
What other services does Community Lunch provide?
In addition to hot meals, we provide and work with partners to provide a broad range of additional on-site services, including sleeping bags, coats, socks, medical assistance, flu shots, and benefits experts.
What is the annual budget for Community Lunch?
Our annual budget is approximately $400,000, which includes food and kitchen supplies, staff, transportation, fundraising, and insurance. This does not include in-kind donations, which raises the budget to more than $1 million annually.
Where does Community Lunch's funding come from?
Where does Community Lunch’s spending go?
Who volunteers at Community Lunch?
We host groups from throughout the region and around the country, including many schools, churches, businesses and community groups. We also have many individuals who volunteer once or on a regular basis.