About Downtown Daily Bread

In the Harrisburg community, Downtown Daily Bread is a walk-in resource center for all hungry and homeless individuals. Downtown Daily Bread was founded on March 23,1983 by Pine Street Presbyterian Church.

Our Mission

For forty- two years, Downtown Daily Bread has been a gateway to basic human services for hundreds of homeless and hungry individuals in Harrisburg.

We offer a Soup Kitchen with weekday breakfast and dinner, and adaily lunch meals; a Day Shelter with cots, computers, phones, and staff counselors; a winter season Night Shelter for men, and numerous assistance programs such as showers, lockers, mail delivery, laundry cards, vouchers for photo IDs, clothing, and other personal hygiene items. 

Our History

Downtown Daily Bread is a mission started by Pastor Fred Anderson, Moderator of the Deacons Judy Bryan, along with a group of visionaries from Pine Street Presbyterian Church (PSPC), who four decades ago decided to create a solution to an ongoing problem of homelessness and hunger insecurity in their community. March 23, 1983, would be a day they would launch and serve the first meal to the community out of the Boyd Memorial Center just across the street from their church.

Today, DDB is still thriving due to the support and generosity of the members of PSPC. As neighbors, we continue to meet the needs of those facing hunger and homelessness in our community collectively.

Our Outcomes and Successes

Our approach has been successful, and demand for our programs has continued to surge. In 2024, the Day Shelter registered 1,558 unique visits and totaled 41,970 visits annually. 

The  Kitchen served 92,232 meals in 2024. On average, 70-95 people arrived for weekday breakfast meals, and 90-100 came daily for lunch. We continue to be the only location in Harrisburg that offers indoor dining for meals to hungry, homeless individuals. 

We measure project results at individual and organizational levels. Coming in for a shower, clean clothes, a warm lunch, or resting on a dry cot are all examples of small yet significant individual successes. In broader, quantifiable terms, our staff tracks attendance, intake information, and benefits received. This data helps us provide a comprehensive, personal approach for each client.  

Population Served

In Harrisburg, there are hundreds of individuals who live unsheltered. Reasons for homelessness vary from loss of employment to domestic violence, substance abuse, and/or mental illness. The common thread is a lack of supportive relationships with family or friends. Client demographics are 85% male; 8% U.S. veterans; and 55% Black.

Everyone in need is given help regardless of race, gender, beliefs, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Our Volunteers

Volunteers at the Capitol Hunger Garden are key to delivering 1,000+ pounds of fresh vegetables to our Soup Kitchen every June – October. Green salads, veggie soups, and more! Many thanks to the PA Legislative Hunger Caucus for sponsoring the garden and Penn State Master Gardeners for tending it! Picture courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services.

In our kitchen and dining services here at DDB we are so thankful for every organization, church, and business that take time out of their day and volunteer to serving meals over our lunch hour! This is one example of the many volunteers and financial gifts that keep our Shelter, Soup Kitchen, and Services open for every person in need, every day.

Do You Need Help?

**We are a low barrier shelter that does not background check. As a result, we only serve adults. We do NOT serve or allow minors in the buiding**

If you are in immediate need of medical assistance, dial 911. If you are experiencing any other type of crisis OR if it is after hours, please dial 211.

Downtown Daily Bread can help you with the following: