Our History
A homeless man unknowingly knocked on the door of our founders, Dr. Donald and Dr. Dorothy Femmer, which was attached to a church and Bible college. Without resources to help him, he decided to leave when he realized it was a family residence. Hearing he had been sent away, Drs. Femmer were filled with compassion and quickly found him hitchhiking nearby. They warmly welcomed him back to their home, where he was served a simple tomato sandwich from their garden. They shared a heartfelt conversation, and as he left, Dorothy vowed that no one would ever leave her home hungry again. This moment of kindness reminded them of the power of compassion and the importance of caring for others.
Dorothy’s vision was realized on January 13, 1982, when Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis, Inc., formally opened its doors. The organization’s mission is to provide emergency food assistance to the impoverished, elderly, and unemployed, while embodying the Christian principles of compassion and sharing.
In 1997, by God’s grace and the unwavering strength and faith of our community, we endured one of our darkest moments. A devastating fire swept through our building, destroying more than half of it and forcing us to close temporarily. This heartbreaking loss disrupted essential services like our emergency homeless shelter and food pantry, leaving many of our neighbors without the support they desperately relied on.
But Dorothy Femmer’s steadfast resilience and leadership united us all. She reached out with incredible compassion, inspiring the community to come together with hope and determination. Thanks to her and everyone’s unwavering support, by 1998, despite the ongoing housing crisis, we proudly reopened our doors—renewed by the love and solidarity that define us.
Today, Loaves and Fishes For St. Louis is a thriving homeless service organization committed to supporting homeless individuals, at-risk populations, and senior citizens. The program offers a wide range of essential services, including emergency shelter, rental and utility assistance, a food pantry, outreach efforts, and coordinated entry services, all available throughout the week. Annually, over 15,000 people benefit from these services.
In addition to basic support, Loaves and Fishes has expanded its programs to include intensive case management, life skills workshops, parenting classes, financial wellness education, counseling, housing readiness and navigation, and employment assistance. These comprehensive services promote a holistic approach to achieving housing stability and aim to prevent recidivism, ensuring long-term support for those in need.
