Sacramento Loaves & Fishes

Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, in its 42nd year, is a 501(c)(3), charitable, non-profit organization, committed to providing homeless services since 1983. Founded on the philosophy of the Catholic Worker Movement and inspired by the works of mercy as set forth in Matthew 25:34-40, Loaves & Fishes is a place of respite for people and families experiencing homelessness. Our community remains dedicated to not only providing warm meals, essential survival supplies, and services for nearly 1,000 adults and children daily, but doing so in an environment that recognizes the dignity and spiritual destiny of each person. 

In our 42 years of service, we have greatly expanded from a simple dining room to 16 programs and services across a 4.5-acre campus. The need for our services continues to be profound and we take great care in honoring “As often as you did it for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40

We do not solicit or accept government funds to keep our services judgment and barrier-free. We are completely supported by the contributions of individuals and private donations from the greater Sacramento community. 

The Work of Chris and Dan Delany

Loaves & Fishes is a place of radical love founded by Chris and Dan Delany. The Delany’s had a passion in their hearts to provide service to people living in poverty. Deeply inspired by the work of Dorothy Day, Chris as a former nun and Dan as a former priest, brought the Catholic Worker Movement to Sacramento in the 1970’s. They began by opening their home first to people suffering with AIDS and then to the families visiting their loved ones in Folsom Prison. The Delany’s never wavered in their commitment to hospitality and welcoming the stranger. Their house of hospitality evolved into an opportunity to feed people struggling with hunger on the streets of Sacramento and continued to grow as folks came to serve alongside the Delany’s. 

With vivid imaginations and the will to try, our Founders, Chris & Dan Delany, set out to create an oasis for unhoused people in Sacramento, and thus, Sacramento Loaves & Fishes was born. Our services now include a school for homeless children, women’s services, survival supplies, showers, laundry, mental health counseling, legal advice, medical services, a kennel for pets, and many other services provided by partnerships in our community. We are governed by a board of directors selected from Loaves & Fishes and community members who have demonstrated compassion towards the needs of those who are homeless and living in poverty. 

For over 40 years, these 4.5 acres on North C Street have been a sacred place for humanity and dignity to be recognized and restored. By moving toward our guests, regardless of circumstance, we build a kinship with them. We learn their favorite foods, the song that will make their head bop no matter the situation, how they like their coffee, and we learn their names. There is a sacred, love-rooted power in being known, and at Loaves & Fishes, we are lucky to know and love so many of our unhoused neighbors and guests. 

Community Support

This year, for Big Day of Giving, we return to our campus manifesto, The 36 Things. Together, we lean into lesson #4, “Be careful to learn names.”  At Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, we believe that learning our guest’s name is a powerful act of dignity and recognition. For those experiencing homelessness, being called by their name is a reminder that they are seen and valued. In a world that often dehumanizes them, a simple greeting can restore a sense of identity and belonging, building trust and creating a foundation for deeper relationships.

By embracing each guest with kindness and familiarity, we foster an environment where they feel safe enough to seek help, share their struggles, and take steps toward healing. This Big Day of Giving, we celebrate the sacred power of being known and recognized by name. Join us as we share names and stories and remember the humanity in each guest we serve.