So Others Might Eat

In 1970, an interfaith group of priests, ministers, and lay persons founded So Others Might Eat to help feed the city’s destitute citizens.  After several years, however, SOME founders saw needs beyond what the small soup kitchen could provide and began delivering additional services to support and nourish the neediest of our residents.

In the 1970s, SOME started offering hot nutritional meals, launched a substance abuse program, and began a caregiver program for the elderly. In the 1980s, SOME opened a medical clinic and also began helping the homeless find jobs. In 1989, SOME created its first affordable housing program for homeless single adults. In the late 1990s, more housing was opened and a job training program was launched.

In recent years, SOME has opened a number of affordable, dignified residences for homeless families and single adults throughout the DC metro area.

Still, SOME is best known for food; and, indeed, more than 1,000 meals are served each day in our dining room and other programs.  But today, SOME offers comprehensive programs that meet a full spectrum of needs while giving a sense of dignity to the poor and homeless of the District of Columbia.”

This is a very popular service site. Spaces fill-up well in advance.

What do volunteers do?

Individuals and groups are needed to serve food in SOME’s Dining Rooms for the Homeless. Volunteers will spend time preparing and serving meals and interacting with guests.

The Dining Rooms are limited to 15 volunteers per meal to ensure that each person is well utilized. All volunteers must schedule a time to help in advance and review the volunteer dress code.

What times/days are available?

Breakfast volunteers: 7:00am – 9:00am, everyday
Lunch volunteers: 11:00am – 1:30pm, everyday

Contact: 202.797.8806 ext. 2113 or by email

SOME
71 ‘O’ Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001