Mission: To provide uplifting and supportive services that empower our clients to be financially secure and have a stable home.
Vision: To see families stably housed with a robust support system to ensure longer-term stability and hope for a better tomorrow
About Us
Every great mission begins with a moment of compassion.
For Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis, that moment began decades ago—on an ordinary day, at the doorstep of our founders, Dr. Donald and Dr. Dorothy Femmer.
A weary, homeless man knocked on their door, seeking help. Their home was attached to a church and Bible college, yet they had no formal resources to offer. Embarrassed and uncertain, the man turned to leave. But when Dorothy learned what had happened, her heart broke. She and her husband quickly found him hitchhiking nearby, welcomed him back, and offered him a simple tomato sandwich made from their garden.
That sandwich—humble and heartfelt—became the seed of something extraordinary. It was in that act of kindness that Dorothy made a quiet promise:
“No one will ever leave my home hungry again.”
The Beginning of a Movement
On January 13, 1982, that promise blossomed into action as Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis, Inc. opened its doors for the first time.
Our mission was simple yet profound: to offer emergency food assistance and hope to the impoverished, the elderly, and the unemployed, guided by the Christian principles of compassion, dignity, and love.
Our Mission Today
Today, Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis stands as a beacon of hope for thousands of individuals and families each year.
We’ve grown from offering meals to offering pathways to transformation—through emergency shelter, rental and utility assistance, outreach, case management, and a food pantry that nourishes both body and soul.
We now serve over 15,000 people annually, providing not just immediate relief but also long-term support:
Life skills workshops, parenting and financial education, counseling, employment assistance, and housing readiness programs.
We walk alongside every person who comes to us, not as clients, but as neighbors, helping them find stability, dignity, and renewed purpose.
Rising from the Ashes
In 1995, our community faced one of its darkest hours. A devastating fire tore through our building, destroying more than half of it. Overnight, the heartbeat of our mission—our food pantry and homeless shelter—was silenced. Families who depended on us were suddenly without the support they so desperately needed.
But even in the ashes, Dorothy’s spirit never wavered. She stood as a pillar of faith and strength, rallying our community with grace and determination. Together, through the prayers, generosity, and perseverance of countless supporters, Loaves and Fishes reopened in 1998, stronger and more united than ever before.
That moment reminded us that we are not defined by loss, but by how we rise.
Early years of our emergency shelter
Fire damage from the 1995 fire. Roof of the shelter
Front of the shelter in 2022.
Looking Ahead
Our story began with a tomato sandwich and a promise of love.
It continues today through every act of kindness, every family sheltered, every meal served, and every life restored.
As CEO, I am deeply humbled by the resilience of those we serve and the generosity of those who serve with us. Together, we are writing the next chapter of hope—one that reminds the world that compassion still changes lives.