The Connection Café

The Connection Café offers lunch to whomever needs a lunch in Downtown Des Moines.  The program was started by four downtown churches to address the need they saw in the downtown area.  For more information please visit the Connection Cafe’s website.

Volunteers from more than 50 churches, schools, and civic groups donate and serve an average of more than 100 people every weekday. In 2017, more than 2500 volunteers served 35,291 meals. There are two groups at OLIH that provide and serve meals at the Connection Café.

One group serves the second Friday of every month.  They have 12 members on the team and each month one of the teams' members is responsible to be the lead for that month and responsible to purchase supplies and deliver to the Connection Café.  There is a set list of supplies they purchase each month. The prep work can be done in volunteers homes on their own schedule or the Thursday night prior in the OLIH kitchen. Volunteers are needed to serve the food on the scheduled Fridays.  

The other group serves every month there is a 5th Wednesday.  Volunteers can select to help with various tasks to prepare, purchase supplies, deliver and serve the meal.  For the 5th Wednesday group, the prep work can be done in your own home on your own schedule, or the Tuesday night prior in the OLIH kitchen.  Volunteers are needed to deliver and serve the food on the scheduled Wednesdays. 

You are answering Jesus' call to "When did I see you hungry". from Matthew 25. It’s also a wonderful chance get to know other parishioners involved in the ministry as you prepare and serve the meals. 

To get involved contact:   

       Second Friday group:  Toby Berberich - Tberberich@ssactivewear.com  515-975-5137 

       Fifth Wednesday group:  Jane Alderman, janealderman55@gmail.com  515-723-3958