Serving lunch Monday - Friday from, Noon to 1pm

If you are able, please consider FINANCIALLY supporting our mission. Thank you so much!

The Manna for Hammond soup kitchen was established in October 1985 when the pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church and concerned volunteers came together in an effort to feed the hungry in downtown Hammond and surrounding communities. Since then, we have seen social and economic climates rise and fall. But the need to help our less fortunate neighbors remains.

We are blessed to have dedicated and faithful volunteers, some of which have been with us for decades. These wonderful volunteers include members of other Catholic parishes in the diocese, as well as people from other denominations, faith communities, and civic groups. They come from all walks of life and at all ages. We are thankful to have each and everyone of them and for their deep concern for their fellow human beings in need.

And the success of the soup kitchen could not be possible without the support of the community at large, who aids us in providing food donations and monetary donations to keep the soup kitchen going year after year. That includes many generous individuals, school groups, organizations, and businesses in Northwest Indiana and beyond. We receive no public money of any kind, not on local, county, state, or federal levels.  All funding is provided by people just like you who want to help in some way.  We truly are people helping people.  

The soup kitchen offers lunch from noon until 1:00 pm Monday through Friday, year round. We have an open door policy with no questions asked of anyone entering to have a healthy meal served with a smile.  We invite you to join us, as a volunteer, or as a client, or just to stop by and visit.  The camaraderie is contagious and our blessings are plentiful.

*NOTE: Our good friends and neighbors, the Members of First Presbyterian Church (down the street at 6021 Hohman Ave., Hammond) fill in for us as host between Christmas Eve and New Year Day, on the major national holidays, and the first full week in July when we close for deep cleaning and repair projects.

TYPICAL SOUP KITCHEN MEAL NEEDS
50 to 60 POUNDS OF MEAT
40 POUNDS OF POTATOES
6 to 8 #10 CANS OF VEGETABLES
6 to 8 #10 CANS OF FRUIT
 4 to 5 GALLONS OF MILK
4 to 6 GALLONS OF COFFEE
6 GALLONS FRUIT JUICE DRINK

If we had to purchase everything we use:
MEAT     $1,550.00
VEGETABLES    $   435.00
FRUIT     $   443.00
COFFEE    $   275.00
STYROFOAM/PAPER SUPPLIES $   460.00

Weekly Expenses             $3,231.00      ( Approximately 1000 meals per week)

Other expenses are: utilities, cleaning supplies, refuse, materials, and the gas and maintenance cost of the soup kitchen van (which is used to pick up donations and supplies).  We also employ one part-time janitor, one part-time driver, and a full-time Director/Coordinator.

We wish to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributes and donates toward this work.  Please pass this information on to anyone you think would be interested in hearing about and sharing in our work.

Want to volunteer? Please contact our soup kitchen coordinator Ray Moreno at 219-931-7682 for information.

Would you like to donate? If you do not wish to use the online donation link at the top of the page, please make checks payable to Saint Joseph Soup Kitchen and mail those to Saint Joseph Church at 5304 Hohman Avenue, Hammond, IN  46320.