It is the policy of the St. Louis Empowerment Center to provide free lunch for its program participants at noon on Monday through Friday. Participants must attend one of the self-help meetings held at the Center at 11:00am if they wish to partake of the lunch. When available, additional snacks are served in the afternoon.

The St. Louis Empowerment Center receives donations of food from a variety of local charitable organizations and individual donors. Grant funds purchase food from super markets, as well as the St. Louis Area Food Bank.

In addition, the St. Louis Empowerment Center regularly receives donations of food from Operation Food Search. This food is available for anyone in need of assistance, and is distributed to program participants, part-time line staff, and other social service agencies.