Hot Lunch Services Inc. dba St. Mary's Food Kitchen

Who Can Visit?

St. Mary's Food Kitchen is open to everyone. You do not need to sign up or register ahead of time. As the mission page says, "All are welcome." The kitchen exists to support Kansas City area residents in need, and anyone who is hungry can come in for a free hot meal.

Good to Know

The kitchen serves lunch every single day of the year, including weekends and holidays, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Between 300 and 500 people are served in just one and a half hours each day. You can expect a full tray with a hot meal, a drink, and dessert. Volunteers also offer seconds at the end of the service, and you can wrap up extra food to take with you for later in the day. The kitchen is located at 645 Nebraska Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

People experiencing homelessness can also use the kitchen as a mailing address to receive their mail.

Food & Essentials

St. Mary's Food Kitchen serves a complete hot lunch. Past meals have included hot roast beef BBQ sandwiches, green beans, a wide selection of chips, water, lemonade, milk, fresh cut watermelon, and peach cobbler. The quality has been described by visitors as comparable to a local small-town restaurant.

How to Pick Up

Walk in during lunch hours and move through a service line where volunteers serve you a full meal tray. Everything is provided at no charge. Volunteers offer seconds at the end of the service, and you can wrap food up to take with you if you need a meal later in the day.

Additional Support

The kitchen has resources for people experiencing homelessness, including the ability to receive mail at the location. Staff can also help connect visitors to other community resources. As one regular visitor noted, "If they don't have it they can usually direct you to where you can find it."

Ways to Give

St. Mary's Food Kitchen is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies on generous donors to keep running. You can make a financial donation online through PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=MNMXR954XQE7Q. You can also contact the kitchen by phone at 913-281-5638 or by email at stmfoodkitchen@gmail.com.

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers are the heart and soul of St. Mary's Food Kitchen. Faith-based volunteer groups and organizations provide and serve meals every day of the year. To sign up for available volunteer openings, visit the volunteer signup page at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CACAE23A3FBC61-volunteer.

Please note these requirements before signing up:

• All volunteers must be 12 years of age or older. No exceptions.
• The kitchen does not accept volunteers seeking court-appointed community service hours.