The mission of Bread for the City is to help Washington, DC residents living with low income to develop their power to determine the future of their own communities. We provide food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to reduce the burden of poverty. We seek justice through community organizing and public advocacy. We work to uproot racism, a major cause of poverty. We are committed to treating our clients with the dignity and respect that all people deserve.
At Bread for the City, we share a vision of Washington, DC as a nurturing community, where all residents have access to the basic material resources they need for survival and growth, and the prosperity of their social, emotional, and spiritual lives.
Started in 1974, Bread for the City is a front line agency serving Washington’s low income residents. The agency began as two organizations; Zacchaeus Free Clinic began in 1974 as a volunteer-run free medical clinic, and Bread for the City was created in 1976 by a coalition of downtown churches to feed and clothe the poor.
Learn MoreBread for the City is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization.
Federal ID #52-1138207
Look below to see how your unwavering support has greatly impacted residents in the DC community.
Read our latest Annual Report.
We operate two centers in Washington, DC, one in Shaw and one in Anacostia.
Both are accessible by metro and bus.
We are lucky to have an incredibly passionate and dedicated 120-person staff. We take pride in the fact that many of our staff have worked at Bread for 10, 20, even 30 years! If you are ready to make DC a better place, check out our job offerings below.