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.

Mission Statement

The mission of Downtown Daily Bread is to confront hunger and homelessness by offering daily food and shelter, delivering services, fostering community, and inspiring hope.

Our Mission

For forty- one 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 breakfasts and daily 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.

On An Average Day

160

People Eat Meals

50

People Come for Showers

100

People Visit the Day Shelter

85

People Pick Up Mail

Our Outcomes and Successes

Our approach has been successful, and demand for our programs has continued to surge. In 2023, the Day Shelter registered 1,250 unique visits and totaled 32,000 visits annually. 

The  Kitchen served 70,000 meals in 2023. On average, 60-75 people arrived for weekday breakfast meals, and 70-100 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.  

Photo by Joe Hermitt, PennLive

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.

Personal Care and Compassion

Matt


It has been almost a year since Matt arrived at the shelter for the first time. He is in his early 20s. Matt needed shelter, guidance, and support to get back into housing and secure a job. He enjoys working at a local hotel, but he recently called to say his hours had been cut due to recent snowstorms.

Could we help him pay the balance of his weekly rent? Based on his history and progress, we contributed to his rent and helped him develop a budget. His next step is to look for a nearby second job that will help him build savings.

Julie


Julie is a client who first visited the shelter in January 2021. At the time, Julie was 69 years old and arrived with two black eyes, cuts, and bruises on her face and body. She was fleeing a chronic domestic violence situation. Julie had a difficult time communicating, struggling with significant hearing loss and illiteracy.

The shelter team worked with her daily for more than 5 months. Julie received shelter, meals, clothing, showers, and personalized counseling that connected her with other community resources for medical attention and housing programs. When a space in an assisted living home was secured for her, she refused it for an unknown reason.

Our team continued to work with her each day, and thankfully, in early summer, she agreed to move forward with a new housing option provided by a partner organization. She continues to visit the shelter to receive mail and meals.

DDB partners with UPMC to provide personal medical care to our clients living on the streets of Harrisburg. Photo credit: Joe Hermitt, Penn Live

DDB provides a place for clients to receive much needed foot care from the UPMC Street Medicine team.

Jeffrey


Jeffrey has been homeless in Harrisburg for the past ten years. He’s in his late 40s and recently diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He regrets his past habits and getting in trouble often with the law.

Staying in the shelter during the day and overnight, Jeffrey checks in with staff daily to stay committed to his plan to change. Since reading and writing are a challenge for him, our Client Counselor fills out Social Security forms with him. Two 10-page forms took two hours to complete. Changing habits and getting help takes time, patience, and persistence. We are here for him while he continues this journey.

Marie


Marie just turned 54 years old. She’s been coming to the shelter for the past three months. Her pattern is to visit for a few days and then disappear for a few. When she is here, Marie talks with staff, eats meals, showers, picks out new clothing, and takes time to rest on a shelter couch. She suffers from schizophrenia and possibly other conditions. It is difficult to help her since most of the time she is delusional, talking to people not present and referring to non-sensical happenings. Our counselor engages her on each visit and hopes to gain more insight. Recently, this meant talking with a social worker at a nearby hospital where Marie had been admitted for a few days. We will continue to be here for Marie to meet her basic needs and interact with counselors. We have also engaged help from our partners Crisis Intervention and UPMC staff too.

Our Partners

Each partner organization generously supports Downtown Daily Bread on a recurring schedule. We are grateful.

Our Staff

Corrie Lingenfelter
Executive Director

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Bradley Gebhart
Director of Development

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Anthony Jackson
Shelter Manager

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Michelle Ortega
Custodian

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Karen Purrington
Kitchen Assistant

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Robert Edmonson
Client Assistant

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Amanda Berman
Office Manager

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Stephanie Steiner
Client Assistant

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Mieshia Jackson
Culinary Staff - Chef

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Vanessa Gambone
Homeless Case Manager

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Myesha Neal
Client Counselor

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Board of Directors

Jay Himes

President

Former, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials


Jennifer Garman

Treasurer

Director of Government Affairs, Disability Rights Pennsylvania

Alicelyn W. Sleber 

Secretary

Former Partner in Sleber Associates Licensed Psychologists


Sue Wilson

Former Executive Director, Citizens Advisory Council to the Department of Environmental Protection

Matthew M. Haar

Harrisburg Office Managing Partner
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr

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.

Adult Learning Center (ALC)

Downtown Daily Bread and Pine Street Presbyterian Church partner with Tri-County OIC to provide adult education in our community. Some of these programs are located in the Downtown Daily Bread facility (known as the Boyd Memorial Building) at 234 South Street, and others take place inside Pine Street Presbyterian Church, located at 310 N. Third Street, Harrisburg.

Other services are offered remotely, or at the Tri-County OIC main facility at 500 Maclay Street in Harrisburg. Adult students include those who participate in programs through Tri-County OIC, and those who access services through Downtown Daily Bread. This partnership has benefitted adult learners in the Harrisburg community for more than six years. Students have prepared to take their high school equivalency exams, learned English as a Second Language (ESL), gained important life skills such as culinary and nurse’s aide training, and received instruction in computer and digital literacy. For more information about this program, visit https://tricountyoic.org/. For a schedule of specific classes and more information about adult education, visit https://tricountyoic.org/adult-education/.

Current Hours and Services

Lunch

Daily

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Use side entrance on Willis Street Alley

Saturdays and Sundays – lunch available in the Day Shelter (top floor)

Breakfast

Monday – Friday

7:00 am – 8:00 am

Use side entrance on Willis Street Alley

Day Shelter

7 days/week

Monday | 7:00 am – 12:30 pm

Tuesday – Friday | 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Saturday | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

Sunday | 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

Use front entrance on 234 South Street

Mail, Showers, Clothing, Assistance

Monday – Friday

8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Use front entrance on 234 South Street

Winter Night Shelter for Men

Open December 1 – March 31

Starting December 1 at 7:30 pm

Use front entrance on 234 South Street

Do You Need Help?

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.

To get started, please visit the Day Shelter during open hours on weekdays, Monday – Friday.

Downtown Daily Bread can help you with the following:

  • Meals
  • Mail delivery
  • Showers
  • Day Shelter (air-conditioned) with cots, phones, computers, and bathrooms
  • Night Shelter
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  • Clothing and personal items
  • Case management and counseling
  • Conversation with knowledgeable staff

Frequently Asked Questions

I am hungry. When and where are meals served?

Every day a lunch is served in our Soup Kitchen located at 234 South Street. Use the side entrance on Willis Street alley. Breakfast is served Monday through Friday mornings. Click here for current hours.

What help is available?

Downtown Daily Bread offers:

  • Breakfast and lunch meals
  • Mail delivery
  • Showers and personal hygiene products
  • Air-conditioned, indoor day shelter with cots, phones, computers, and bathrooms, tables, and chairs
  • Storage lockers
  • Clothing and essential items
  • Conversation and support from knowledgeable staff
What is my first step to getting help from Downtown Daily Bread?

Come to the shelter Monday through Friday, and speak with a staff person about your needs. No appointment is needed. We are located at 234 South Street in Harrisburg. Click here for current hours. Please bring a form of ID. If you do not have one, we will assist you in that process.

How do I get help when Downtown Daily Bread is not open?

For non-life-threatening situations, call 211. Managed by United Way of Pennsylvania, 211 allows all residents of Pennsylvania to have access to customized health, housing and human services information in one place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Language services are available.

Do I need to bring a form of ID?

For breakfast and lunch meals, no ID or check-in is required. For all other services, you must complete a brief intake form with a staff member and show us an ID. If you do not have one, we will assist you in that process.

Do you have a place to store belongings at Downtown Daily Bread?

Yes, we have 55 lockers in our building that are assigned to individuals on a short-term basis. To find out about availability, come to the shelter and speak with a staff person Monday through Friday. We are located at 234 South Street in Harrisburg. Click here for current hours.

Can I have my mail delivered to Downtown Daily Bread?

Yes. To get started, come talk with a staff member Monday through Friday. We are located at 234 South Street in Harrisburg. Click here for current hours. Please bring a form of ID. If you do not have one, we will assist you in that process.

When can I pick up my mail?

Mail can be picked up at our building at 234 South Street in Harrisburg any weekday (Monday through Friday) morning. Click here for current hours. We do not check your mail over the phone.

I need clothes. What do I do?

Please come to the shelter Monday through Friday, and speak with a staff member. Click here for current hours.

Get in Touch

Volunteers

If you are interested in volunteering to serve lunch on a weekday at Downtown Daily Bread from 12:00 – 1:00 pm, please send us a message or call us at (717) 238-4717.

Other Information

Fill out our form or give us a call. You must stop by our shelter during our regular hours to access most services.




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    Send a Check

    Please make checks payable to Downtown Daily Bread and mail:

    Downtown Daily Bread
    234 South St

    Harrisburg, PA 17101

    Get Involved

    Host a collection drive for items on our Amazon Wishlist. This is a great way to collaborate with your friends, neighbors, and family to assist us with items we need and use everyday! Call Downtown Daily Bread at (717) 238-4717 for more information.

    Amazon Wishlist