Saint Patrick's Center - Food Distribution Center

Who Can Visit?

Saint Patrick's Center welcomes anyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. People can walk into the Welcome Center at 800 North Tucker Blvd. without an appointment. The most helpful times to arrive are Monday through Friday at 8am or 1pm. Note that the Welcome Center closes for lunch from noon to 1pm.

Good to Know

The center serves up to 200 fresh meals daily, prepared by volunteers from over 140 community groups and companies. A reviewer notes that the food is good and meals are served 7 days a week from 12pm to 12:30pm. Another visitor mentions salad is served every day at lunch, which is a nice healthy option. Arrive early to make the most of the visit, especially since lunch is a short half-hour window.

Food & Essentials

Saint Patrick's Center provides free hot meals to anyone in need, not just residents or program participants. Lunch is available every day of the week, and the menu typically includes a main dish and salad. Reviewers mention that breakfast and lunch are available and that dinner is also served for those in the shelter or Shamrock Club program. The center has been a long-standing food access point in downtown St. Louis for over 40 years.

How to Pick Up

Meals are served on-site in the dining area. Lunch is available daily from 12pm to 12:30pm. Anyone can come in for a free meal, whether they're in a program or just need something to eat that day.

Additional Support

Saint Patrick's Center offers a wide range of services beyond meals. These include:

• Emergency shelter for women through the Women's Night Program
• Rapid rehousing and rent or utility assistance for people facing homelessness
• Case management to help clients find housing, jobs, and stability
• Workforce development with job-ready training and employment support, including paths for different skill levels
• Mental health and substance use services through the Shamrock Club and ACT programs
• Veterans programs including Project HERO, SSVF, and Veterans Bridge Housing to help veterans find permanent housing. For veterans, call (314) 356-0657
• GED and educational classes on-site
• CNA and other skills training
• Outreach to connect people on the streets to shelter, emergency food, and transportation
• Housing First placements to move people into permanent housing without preconditions

To get started with services, visit the Welcome Center in person. All intakes are done on-site and are not handled by phone, email, or social media.

Facilities

The Shamrock Club day program participants have access to showers, washers, and dryers on-site. The center also has a vending machine available upstairs.

Ways to Give

Saint Patrick's Center welcomes donations of money, clothes, shoes, and household items.

• Online donations: Give at stpatrickcenter.org/donate by one-time or recurring gift
• Mail a check: St. Patrick Center, Mail Stop 450001, PO Box 953745, St. Louis, MO 63195-3745
• Drop off items: Bring clothing, shoes, or household goods to the donation center at the rear of 800 N. Tucker Blvd. Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. On weekends and holidays, casseroles and salad kits are accepted from 9am to 11am at the dock on Hadley Street
• Questions about donating items: Call (314) 802-5482 or the Donation Center at (314) 802-1964
• Questions about monetary giving: Contact Mike Dineen at (314) 802-0194 or mikedineen@stpatrickcenter.org

Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and Affordable Housing Assistance Program (AHAP) tax credits are available for qualifying donors.

How to Join the Team?

Saint Patrick's Center has nearly 3,000 volunteers who donate over 29,000 hours each year. Volunteer opportunities include meal service, sorting donations, working at fundraising events, administrative duties, making casseroles and salads, and more.

To apply, visit the volunteer opportunities page and then apply through Better Impact. You can also support the center by joining the Young Professionals Board (for those under 40) or the Board of Ambassadors.