Our Mission

Provide radical hospitality one burrito at a time

The Urban Bicycle Food Ministry - Des Moines is a community-based and non-denominational organization. Anyone and everyone is welcome to be a part of this ministry. We do not preach, proselytize or try to convert. 

Since 2014 we have been serving radical hospitality — one burrito at a time. What is “radical hospitality”? Every Thursday, all year long, we prepare and deliver hundreds of food and personal items by bike and car to people on the streets, they might be living under a bridge, in a tent next to the river or railroad tracks or in a hole dug in the side of a hill or in subsidized housing. Think “Uber Eats” for people without addresses or the ability to pay.

How you can get involved

You can take part in either meal preparation or meal delivery or both. Each of our meal delivery teams traverse one of several routes, which crisscross the metro area, stopping at homeless camps and subsidized housing developments. A typical night looks like this:

  • 4:45 pm — We meet in the Parish Hall of Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, 511 Des Moines St, in the East Village to make sandwiches and burritos.

  • 6:00 pm — We gather for announcements, God moments, stories from the street.

  • 6:15 pm — Meal delivery teams take off, some in cars and others on bikes.

  • 8:30 pm — Meal delivery teams finish their routes and arrive back to the Capitol Hill Lutheran Church.

You can also donate items that we pass out to people on the street, including blankets, winter coats, hats, gloves, toiletry items, flashlights, AA, AAA and D batteries, tents and sleeping bags. Simply drop your items off in the Parish Hall at the church from 4:45 pm to 6:00 pm. Urban Bicycle Food Ministry - Des Moines is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.

“UBFM has been such a blessing and encouragement to the area. They consistently provide food, personal care items, and smiles for those who need them the most in our area. It’s been an honor to ride and serve with them.”
— Member

Community impact

  • In the first nine months of 2024, we have served more than 16,000 people in need.

  • Created a community to foster hospitality and community service.

  • Use our love for bicycles and serving to create a community of volunteers.

  • Share donated items like batteries, water, home-baked goods, fruit, bug-spray, blankets, hats, and gloves with those in need

  • Built relationships with those in the Des Moines area who are many times overlooked and marginalized.