Union Gospel Mission - Duluth

OUR STORY

For more than a century, the Union Gospel Mission has stood as a place of refuge and renewal in downtown Duluth. Founded on November 1, 1922, when twenty-two churches of different denominations came together to serve a shared purpose, the Mission has spent 103 years providing food, stability, and hope to our Northland neighbors in need.

Today, that mission continues stronger than ever.

Each weekday, the Mission provides lunch and dinner meals to anyone seeking support — no residency, paperwork, or prerequisites required — along with a self-serve breakfast station every morning. In the past year, UGM served over 99,000 hot meals and an additional 27,000 bowls of cereal to guests from across our community.

To keep costs low and stretch resources further, UGM rescues surplus food daily from local grocery stores and partners. In 2025, this program rescued more than 206,000 pounds of food, valued at over $400,000, preventing waste while feeding those who need it most. Any items not used in meals are made available directly to guests through community shelves, fridges, and freezers in the dining hall.

UGM also works to fight childhood hunger through our Summer Food Bag Program — launched to fill the gap left when school meal programs pause during the summer months. Each week, staff and volunteers pack and deliver drawstring bags filled with easy-to-open, easy-to-prepare food for kids and teens. In summer 2025, UGM distributed 4,130 food bags across Duluth, Carlton County, and Two Harbors.

Beyond food, UGM provides safe, dignified housing through Mission Heights — a 20-unit supportive housing complex located above the dining hall. Each resident has a private bedroom, access to a shared kitchen, and wraparound support to help maintain stability. Many arrive after being declined by other housing programs, finding at UGM not just a roof, but a second chance.

Guests also rely on the Mission for daily essentials — clothing, hygiene items, household goods, and a welcoming space open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. An onsite Outreach Coordinator helps guests navigate resources and take steps toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency.

And now, the Mission is preparing for its next century of service.

UGM is actively working toward building a new Mission Engagement Center — a modern, purpose-built hub located across from the St. Louis County Government Services Center. The new facility will include dining, hygiene, medical and social service access, a daytime drop-in center, a nighttime warming area, and 40 units of permanent supportive housing. Together, these spaces will form a Human Services Corridor that connects county and community partners — and reimagines how our region responds to homelessness.

In our 103-year history, the Mission has never received government funding. Every meal, every bed, every act of compassion has been made possible by the generosity of our Northland neighbors.

As we look to the future, we’re asking for your partnership — to help ensure that food, shelter, and hope remain within reach for every person who needs it.

Because shelter fills a need.
Food fills a stomach.
But hope fills the soul.

Learn more at www.duluth-ugm.org.