Laramie Soup Kitchen Serves Thousands, Spends Efficiently on Community Meals

At roughly $11.59 a plate, the Laramie Soup Kitchen fed 34,000 people in 2024 on total annual expenses of approximately $394,000, a figure that stands out against reported revenue of $1.84 million for the fiscal year ending June 2025, the nonprofit's most recently filed annual return with the IRS.

The gap between revenue and expenses reflects a disciplined model. Roughly 96 percent of the organization's income comes from individuals, businesses, and private donors rather than government grants. Food costs remain low because volunteers and staff recovered 185,500 pounds of donated food in 2024 alone, the bulk of it perishable, eliminating much of what would otherwise be the largest single expense for an operation of this scale. The kitchen is housed in the lower level of St. Matthew's Episcopal Cathedral at 104 S. 4th Street, a home it has occupied since 1988 and one that further reduces facility overhead compared to a market-rate lease.

Demand, however, is climbing. The organization averaged 120 guests per day in 2024, up sharply from the five-year average of roughly 20,000 total meals annually between 2017 and 2021. That figure reached 34,000 hot meals in 2024, and the organization projected an average of 134 guests per day through 2025. Meals are served Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with doors open at 8 a.m. so guests can shelter from the elements for most of the day.

A capital campaign to build a new facility is also underway, with leaders targeting completion within three years. The surplus between revenue and expenses feeds directly into that reserve, keeping free daily service intact while the organization plans for greater long-term capacity.

For donors weighing whether to contribute, the arithmetic is direct: at $11.59 per meal in operational costs, $25 funds roughly two hot plates, $50 covers four, and $100 provides nearly nine. The kitchen can be reached at its website, laramiesoupkitchen.org, which accepts online donations. Founded in 1983 by a group of Laramie church women who initially cooked meals in their own homes for 10 to 12 people, the soup kitchen now operates as the city's primary no-cost hot meal provider for anyone facing hunger or isolation in Albany County.