Parishes Bring Sunshine to Lunchtime as They Offer Meals, Kindness
August 23, 2025
By Ryan Johnson
It’s lunchtime in downtown Des Moines, and a line of people forms outside of St. John Lutheran Church.
They are waiting for a free meal at the Connection Cafe, where volunteers serve lunch to anyone in need, including those experiencing homelessness and low-income individuals.
Available Mondays through Fridays, the Connection Cafe provides free lunches and personal care items for its guests. The program serves meals from noon to 1 p.m. at its location at 600 6th Ave.
The Connection Cafe was started in 2003 by The Bridge, an ecumenical, non-profit organization founded by four prominent downtown Des Moines churches. These churches — St. Ambrose Cathedral, St. John Lutheran Church, First United Methodist, and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul Episcopal — came together to address the needs of those living, working and worshipping in Des Moines.
“Individuals from these four downtown churches started The Bridge to work together to serve the community,” said Rob Hoover, the director of the Connection Cafe and a parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Des Moines. “The Bridge created the Connection Café in 2003 to address food insecurity in Des Moines.”
Twenty years later, in 2023, the Connection Cafe served over 34,600 meals. More than 2,000 volunteers contributed over 6,500 hours of service, highlighting the program’s vital role in the community.
Increased Demand in 2025
The Connection Cafe is currently serving more guests than ever. This trend is not unique to Des Moines; food banks and pantries across the country are reporting a higher demand for food assistance.
Attendance is on the rise this year, said Hoover. In June, the organization served 3,827 meals over 21 days — an average of 182 meals per day. On one particularly busy day, they served 253 meals, their highest attendance rate for 2025.
“We were up 25 meals per day in June compared to June 2024, and we’re growing month by month,” said Hoover. “We’re seeing a lot of new faces, and many guests are asking for multiple meals to take to others who can’t make it here.”
Hoover and his volunteers have noticed that inflation and increased food prices are making life more difficult for many people, especially older residents in downtown Des Moines. As a result, more individuals come to the café for meals, even if they have a place to live, because they simply cannot afford to purchase enough food.
During an early August visit, guest Daniel Morin had nothing but praise for the Connection Café.
“The cafe provides resources, including personal care items, and sometimes transportation assistance to help me get to a job interview,” said Morin. “It’s especially nice when volunteers provide meals on holidays, so we can celebrate together.”
Morin, who has been coming to the cafe for the past four years, is one of many guests who appreciate the volunteers and the sense of community they’ve built.
“The volunteers are always so polite, and I’ve been able to build a rapport with a few of them over the years,” he says. “They really make you feel welcome.”
Volunteers Needed
It takes a small army of volunteers to help keep the Connection Cafe going. Groups from various churches and organizations in central Iowa, including many Catholic parishes, volunteer to prepare and serve meals. This includes staff from the Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Pastoral Center, who assist quarterly.
“Most of the groups on our regular schedule are churches, but we do have some civic groups and businesses, that serve the meals,” said Hoover.
Mary Jo Overton and Carole Chambers are the volunteer coordinators at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Overton has been helping in this role for the past five years.
“Volunteering at the Connection Cafe makes you feel good, helping others who are less fortunate,” Overton says. “They so appreciate the food and personal care items that we bring with us when we serve on the third Wednesday of the month. It’s interesting to talk to the guests and hear their stories.”
More than 200 parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi are on a list to contribute or serve at the Connection Cafe. In addition to food, drinks, paper products, and bus tokens, volunteers bring personal care items and new clothing like socks, plus cash donations.
In addition to meals, the Connection Cafe provides complimentary personal care items: body wash, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and seasonal items like bug spray, sunscreen, hand warmers and other items.
The program is completely supported by financial donations, small grants, and contributions from churches and individuals.
“We need serving groups to prepare and serve meals,” Hoover emphasized. “Additionally, we need daily supplies, and we keep summer and winter needs lists.”
You can learn more about the Connection Cafe and find opportunities to support this program at theconnectioncafe.org.
Sign up to help or donate to make a difference in the lives of those in need in the downtown Des Moines community. The following parishes regularly support the Connection Cafe:
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Granger
- Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Des Moines
- Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, Ankeny
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church, West Des Moines
- St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, West Des Moines
- St. Joseph Catholic Church, Des Moines
- St. Pius X Catholic Church, Urbandale
- St. John the Apostle Church, Norwalk
- Catholic Pastoral Center, Des Moines
Don't see your parish listed? Individuals interested in volunteering can also reach out to Hoover at theconnectioncafe@hotmail.com.