Your neighborhood United Methodist Church.
668 Graceland Ave. Des Plaines, IL 60016
CALL
847.827.5561
WRITE
Get to know First Church
Contact
Walt Dibbern
Bessie’s Express
Chair: Community Outreach
First Church Des Plaines
Cell: 847 924 1113
Email: dibbern@dibbern.com
web page:
BESSIE'S EXPRESS
FACT SHEET
Our sister organization: Bessie's Table
This is a church-supported nonprofit serving hot, home-cooked meals every Monday to anyone who is hungry. For 20+ years, our volunteers have served 50,000+ meals with love and compassion. We partner with congregations, high schools, municipal governments, and local neighborhoods to teach youth and neighbors about community service.
The Challenge: Feeding Homeless Students
Local high school students and their families lack stable housing and proper meal resources. Many have no cooking or refrigeration facilities, making traditional food assistance programs (SNAP, food pantries) unusable. Limited transportation prevents them from traveling to Bessie's for dinners.
The Solution: Bessie's Express
In partnership with our local high school and Bessie’s Table, we deliver ready-to-eat meals directly to unhoused students and their families through safe handoffs coordinated with school liaisons. Besides dinner (entrée, salad & desert), deliveries include a sack lunch and snacks for next day nourishment.
Our Impact
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Launched October 6, 2025 with 9 meals
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Now serving 135 meals weekly; 540 meals/month
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Meals on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
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Growing to 200 meals weekly by June ‘26
Next Goals
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Add an extra delivery in mid-week (Wednesday/Thursday)
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Feed more families by expanding kitchen teams and assets
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Longer term: Bring service to additional school districts
Asking
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We need $9,500 to make this expansion possible.
