What is Melody Meals?

  • Melody Meals is a project dedicated to building a community of care and connection for the unhoused through the unifying power of music. Founded from a desire to confront social challenges with empathy and action, the organization brings live musical performances to centers that provide meals and support for those in need. Guided by a belief in the healing strength of music and the comfort of a warm meal, Melody Meals strives to uplift spirits, spark hope, and inspire compassion. With every performance and every shared meal, the goal is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of underserved communities.

  • At Melody Meals, the vision is to create a society where the underserved are uplifted through the unifying power of music and the comfort of a warm meal. As part of a compassionate network of communities, the organization strives to provide not only essential resources but also spiritual and emotional nourishment through live musical performances. The goal is to nurture a culture of empathy and action—one where every individual is seen, heard, and valued. By transforming service centers into spaces of joy, connection, and hope, Melody Meals seeks to inspire change and build a more harmonious future grounded in creativity, dignity, and love.

  • Melody Meals was born out of a commitment to do all we can to help those in need. Extensive research has found that sound plays a key role in an eating experience. Music positively affects taste and classical music in particular enhances the quality of food. We firmly believe that sharing our love of music through live performances will make a positive impact on individuals' lives and we are deeply committed to this cause.

Melody Meals is a non-profit organization that aims to create a community of support for the unhoused population through live music performances. Our community of volunteer student musicians delivers chamber music concerts to the unhoused population in the greater Los Angeles area.

We do this because:

  • Over 49% of the unsheltered population in the United States live in California.

  • The Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count of homelessness in Los Angeles revealed a year-over-year increase of over 10%.

  • With more than a 53% increase in homelessness in California in the last decade, we need to take action to help in any small way.

Partner Centers- Live Performance Locations

Melody Meals Thoughts…

  • "It was so wonderful to have Melody Meals on site while our guests sought services and picked up their nightly dinner. The music was beautiful and brought serenity to the evening."

    -Mary, Hollywood Food Coalition

  • "Melody Meals brought a special warmth to our daily breakfast for the unhoused. Their beautiful music created a peaceful and uplifting atmosphere, brightening the morning for everyone in attendance. We are deeply grateful for their kindness and the joy they shared with our community."

    -Tanisha, St. Francis Center

  • "A dish can not only be flavored by salt and pepper, but also with sounds."

    -Charles Spence, Oxford University Professor. In A Perfect Meal - through gastrophysics - studies found that music has a profound impact on the taste of food. Music, especially classical music, can create an atmosphere that makes food taste better and makes mealtime more enjoyable. Melody Meals’ mission follows this belief.