2025 Hunger Banquet

In 1986, The House of Bread held its first “Hunger Banquet” in the Aetna dining room – a simple meal of minestrone soup and bread. The idea was to raise money for our mission by connecting with supporters in the way we connect with our guests: by breaking bread as a community and by getting to know one another with open hearts, compassion, and love.

Over time, the Hunger Banquet moved to the Franciscan Center at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church. Always held on the second to last Wednesday before Thanksgiving, it attracted a standing-room-only crowd, usually including city and state officials. The pandemic prompted a temporary reinvention: From 2020-24, the Hunger Banquet was a drive-through event – but we are ecstatic to be back in person this year, as we celebrate the 40^th anniversary of this beloved and important tradition!