Miriam's Kitchen was founded in 1983 by a collaboration of The George Washington University Hillel Student Association, Western Presbyterian Church and United Church in response to an urgent need for services for the homeless in Washington, DC.

Our mission is to provide individualized services that address the causes and consequences of homelessness in an atmosphere of dignity and respect, both directly and through facilitating connections in Washington, DC.

We provide free, homemade meals and high-quality support services to more than 4,000 homeless men and women each year through our core programs: 

The founders of Miriam's Kitchen chose ‘Miriam’ for symbolic reasons. As the people of Israel traveled to the Promised Land, Miriam, Moses’ sister, was forced to live outside the camp in isolation because of a sin she committed.

Moses interceded and asked God to allow her to be re-integrated into the people.

Our founders believed that the homeless live a parallel life to what most of us lead. They are camped (literally in some cases) outside the people in isolation. Our goal as a program is to bring them back into the people where they can enjoy the same joys and comforts the rest of us experience.

 

 

Meals are served at Miriam's Kitchen every weekday.  Breakfast is served between 6:30-8 am and dinner is served between 4:45-6 pm.  Additionally, a light lunch is served during our Miriam's Cafe every Wednesday between 12-2 pm.

To ensure our guests' dietary needs are met, all of our food is made with fresh ingredients that include whole grains, fresh meats, and local and organic fruit and vegetables. Our breakfast menus include items such as scrambled eggs with salmon, roasted home fries, warm biscuits, and fresh fruit salads. Our dinner menus will include items such as fresh pasta with marinara sauce, sauteed broccoli, garden salad, and whole wheat rolls.

And because much of our food is donated to us by local farmers markets and grocery stores, we are able to keep our food costs to less than $1.50 per meal.

As one of our guests explains, we are recognized for our meals:

"I used to be an independent working woman and now I am dependent on places like Miriam’s Kitchen. I come to Miriam’s Kitchen because it is the most nutritious place in the city."

We served 52,356 homemade meals to more than 4,000 guests in 2009 and currently serve between 400-500 homeless men and women each weekday. 

 

 

Support services are available to our guests every weekday morning from 6:30-9:45 am, on Wednesdays from 12-2 pm, and every weekday afternoon from 2:30-6 pm.

Some of our case management services include:

• mental health, medical and legal services,

• assistance finding adequate shelter, permanent housing and employment,

• assistance applying for benefits, obtaining identification cards and requesting important documents,

• use of our mailing address, voicemail and phone, and

• help meeting immediate needs such as clean clothing, transportation to important appointments and new toiletries.

Our Case Management Program is staffed by a LICSW-level Deputy Director, a LICSW-level Director of Social Services, and six Case Managers. We provided case management services to 2,301 guests in 2009.

 

Miriam's Studio gives our guests the opportunity to develop their self-expression, sense of empowerment and positive relationships. Our guests are invited to participate in group activities such as Art Therapy and creative writing workshops, yoga sessions, knitting and geography classes, and advocacy groups each weekday morning from 8:10-9:45 am and every weekday afternoon from 2:30-4:30 pm. The groups are facilitated by our case management staff and volunteers, and are attended by an average of 50 guests each day.

 

 

Miriam's Cafe Every Wednesday from 12-2 pm nearly 100 guests join us for a healthy lunch, the opportunity to access our case management services, and the chance to participate in our life skills classes.

 

 

Miriam's Kitchen • 2401 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 Tel: (202) 452-8926 • Fax: (202) 835-8376 • Email: info@miriamskitchen.org