Hungry & Homeless Outreach in Des Moines

Crestwood Baptist Church in the Drake neighborhood of Des Moines hosts a Hungry and Homeless Outreach every Wednesday evening providing a meal for forty to sixty needy in the area. It is not only the people in our immediate neighborhood that attend the meal.  We have several pre-arranged pick-up spots throughout town.  From these we  transport an average of twenty homeless people who are not staying in formal shelters.

Every Wednesday God’s Word is shared through a short message. His love is demonstrated through sharing a meal and the fellowship that naturally happens when doing so.  Following the meal showers  are offered as well as whatever supplies that we have on hand. In addition to shower supplies,  new socks, undergarments, and toiletry items for those who take a shower. A small clothing closet and food pantry are open to all who have needs. At the end of the night, left-overs from the meal are given out so that attendees can share with those still at their camp sites.  Bibles are available to anyone who would like one. When funds allow, the program has also been able to offer tents, tarps, back packs, coats and other protective gear, and sleeping bags to the homeless.

Volunteers from Crestwood Church and other area churches help run this ministry outreach by cooking the meals, preparing the facility, fellowshipping, running the shower stations, operating the food pantry and clothing closet, and by providing transportation to and from our church. A couple of hair stylists even come in to provide free haircuts once a month.  When a need is identified that our group cannot meet, we do our best to put people in contact with other community resources.

We are infinitely grateful that the Baptist Convention of Iowa has recently decided to make a donation to the Hungry and Homeless Outreach at Crestwood Church. This donation will support the program in continuing to share the Good News, offering a good meal, and meeting the immediate physical needs of some of the neediest in the community.

If you want to start your own program, or already run a similar program, we would love to hear from you.  There are always things that we can learn and ways we can support each other.

Please pray to see if God is leading you to support our ministry in some way. Crestwood accepts donations of nonperishable food items, new socks & underwear, toiletry items, Bibles, tents, sleeping bags, and financial contributions.