Franciscan Kitchen

We feed the hungry - no questions asked.

Every weekday and Saturdays (except for the first one of the month) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we open our door to anyone seeking a meal. Our founder, Franciscan friar Brother Jim Fields, was moved by the sight of Japanese families during World War II foraging for food in garbage cans and set out to address the same desperation he saw among the poor and homeless in downtown Louisville. He acquired an abandoned tavern on South Preston Street in the Smoketown neighborhood and in January of 1980, began serving a noontime meal with the help of a handful of volunteers. Along the way, with the ongoing inspiration from the local Franciscan community, the Kitchen expanded the facility and attracted more than 200 regular volunteers who cook, prepare, and serve a freshly-prepared hot meal each day.

We are blessed to receive regular donations of food from our partners in addressing food insecurity, Kentucky Harvest and the Dare to Care Food Bank, along with those of many other business, organizations, and individuals in the community, which make up the bulk of the ingredients for our daily meal. However, this doesn't fully meet the needs of producing the roughly 500 meals we serve each day. That's where your contribution comes into play.

With your support, we can purchase food items that complement what we receive in donated goods. While we were able to continue to serve the hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic, our costs increased as we transitioned from a sit-down meal to a "take-out" one. Containers, plastic utensils, and the like have added to the expense involved in serving a meal.

Will you consider a contribution to help us in our mission? On behalf of those we serve, we thank you!