Community Meal Program

Our Community Meal Program is the heart and soul of the Gathering’s mission.  Ten/eleven free home-cooked meals are prepared and served each week spread across four Milwaukee locations. All meals are cooked fresh on site.  98% of direct service work is done by 1,500-2,000 volunteers annually.  The Gathering welcomes everyone to our meal sites without regard to race, religion or lack of a faith belief, national origin, gender, age, handicap, or sexual orientation.

The Gathering serves 51 weeks out of the year, closing for one week between Christmas and New Years and on major holidays  The exception is our near downtown site which remains open for lunch the Saturday between Christmas and New Year's and - as the calendar permits - for breakfast on New Year's Day.  Below is our meal schedule and our locations.

Meal Schedule

Breakfast
Meal is served Monday-Friday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at The Gathering at Running Rebels (1300 W Fond Du Lac Ave). Volunteer shift is from 7:00-10:15 a.m. Number of guests served: 150-230 

Lunch
Meal is served Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at all 4 meal locations (see below). Mt. Carmel serves the 2nd and 4th Saturdays only.  Volunteer shifts are from 7:00-9:30 a.m. (Cooking Teams) and 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Coordinators and Volunteer Serving Groups).  Number of guests served: 450-550

Dinner
Meal is served Monday & Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church (1236 S Layton Blvd). Volunteer shift is from 3:45-6:15 p.m. Number of guests served: 90-130

Locations

Near Downtown Milwaukee        
The Gathering at Running Rebels
1300 W Fond Du Lac Ave
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Near South Side
Ascension Lutheran Church
1236 S Layton Blvd (27th St)
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Near West Side
Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church
8424 W Center St
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Near North Side
Our Next Generation Neighborhood Center
3421 W Lisbon Ave
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