About Us

The Connection Cafe serves lunch five days a week to homeless and low income individuals and families in downtown Des Moines. Under the direction of a paid coordinator, volunteers from more than 30 churches, school and civic groups provide, prepare and serve lunch to an average of more than 135 guests every weekday, Monday-Friday. In 2023 over 2,000 volunteers served 34,634 meals and contributed over 6,500  hours of volunteer service.

The Connection Cafe is a program created by The Bridge, a collaboration of four downtown Des Moines churches as part of their mission to minister to the poor. St. Ambrose Cathedral, St. John's Lutheran church, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral and First United Methodist church created The Bridge, which was designated a private non-profit 501 c 3 entity by the US government in 2001. Established as the result of a bequest to St. John's, the Connection Cafe became a program of The Bridge as it sought ways to accomplish the goal of enriching the lives of those living, working or worshipping in downtown Des Moines. The Bridge is governed by a Board of Directors representing clergy and members from the collaborating churches.