Sacramento Loaves & Fishes

Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, in its 43rd year, is a 501(c)(3), charitable, non-profit organization, committed to providing homeless services since 1983. Founded on the philosophy of the Catholic Worker Movement and inspired by the works of mercy as set forth in Matthew 25:34-40, Loaves & Fishes is a place of respite for people and families experiencing homelessness. Our community remains dedicated to not only providing warm meals, essential survival supplies, and services for an average of 400-600 adults and children daily, but doing so in an environment that recognizes the dignity and spiritual destiny of each person. 

In our 43 years of service, we have greatly expanded from a simple dining room to 16 programs and services across a 4.5-acre campus. The need for our services continues to be profound and we take great care in honoring “As often as you did it for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

We do not solicit or accept government funds to keep our services judgment and barrier-free. We are completely supported by the contributions of individuals and private donations from the greater Sacramento community. 

The Work of Chris and Dan Delany

Loaves & Fishes is a place of hospitality founded by Chris and Dan Delany. The Delany’s had a deep, heart-centered passion to provide service to people living in poverty throughout their full lives. Deeply inspired by the work of Dorothy Day, Chris as a former nun and Dan as a former priest, brought the Catholic Worker Movement to Sacramento in the 1970’s. They began by opening their home first to people suffering and dying from AIDS and then to the families visiting their loved ones in Folsom Prison. The Delany’s never wavered in their commitment to welcoming the stranger. Their house of hospitality evolved into an opportunity to feed people struggling with hunger on the streets of Sacramento and continued to grow as folks came to serve alongside the Delany’s. 

Thus, Sacramento Loaves & Fishes was born in a tiny, run-down bar on 12th street and North C Street. While that building no longer exists, we have taken the time to intentionally listen to our guests' needs and grow our services organically with their voices at the center of the work. Our campus now includes a school for homeless children, women’s services, survival supplies, showers, laundry, mental health counseling, legal advice, medical services, a kennel for pets, as well as many other services provided by partnerships in our community. We are governed by a board of directors selected from Loaves & Fishes and community members who have demonstrated compassion towards the needs of those who are homeless and living in poverty. 

For over 40 years, these 4.5 acres on North C Street have been a sacred place for humanity and dignity to be recognized and restored. By moving toward our guests, regardless of circumstance, we build a kinship with them. We learn their favorite foods, the song that will make their head bop no matter the situation, how they like their coffee, and we learn their names. There is a sacred, love-rooted power in being known, and at Loaves & Fishes, we are lucky to know and love so many of our unhoused neighbors and guests. 

Community Care Means Everyone! 

This year, for Big Day of Giving, we are leaning into the radical hospitality side of our mission where we are deeply caring for one another in community. In order to become truly hospitable, we are compelled to seek out authentic connection and pathways to welcoming the stranger into our spaces, hearts and lives. This sounds like a mouthful and it can also seem too simple to be powerful, but we want to recognize that we are all sharing this wildly human moment in time together. We deeply believe that when we lift up those of us who are marginalized, forgotten and misunderstood, only then can we all truly thrive. Community care and mutual aid requires everyone to share of what they have so we might all be fed and satiated. 

In a world that often dehumanizes our guests, a simple greeting can restore a sense of identity and belonging, building trust and creating a foundation for deeper relationships. By embracing each guest with kindness and familiarity, we foster an environment where they feel safe enough to seek help, share their struggles, and take steps toward healing. This Big Day of Giving, we celebrate the sacred power of belonging in a social climate that actively attempts to erase people. Join us as we share powerful stories of community care in action!