Martha's Kitchen

For over 40 years, Martha's Kitchen has been a cornerstone in addressing hunger in Santa Clara County and the surrounding regions we serve. This past year, between our hot meal and grocery programs, we provided 2.5 million meals to those in need. We diligently provide food support to those who are unhoused, as well as seniors, veterans, students, and families. Our hot meal and grocery programs together provide nearly 230,000 meals monthly to those we serve. Concurrently, our food rescue initiative recovers 60,000 pounds of food each month. This monumental task has been achievable due to our dedicated community of volunteers. As we look ahead, our goal is to establish a second facility, aiming to triple our capacity. We earnestly request your support as we strive to further Martha's Kitchen's commitment to alleviating hunger in Northern California.

At Martha's Kitchen, our unwavering mission is to eradicate food insecurity in Northern California. For over four decades, we have been a strong shield against hunger. Our new food security hub symbolizes a sizable advancement in this endeavor. Beyond mere spatial expansion, it embodies our intensified pledge to those we provide food security to each and every month, from those who are unhoused, as well as seniors, families, and anyone in need. This facility will amplify our food programs, substantially widening our reach, and fighting hunger in more communities. With its establishment, we're not just expanding; we're redefining our approach to end hunger in the communities we serve, taking us closer to our vision ending hunger in Northern California.

Goal One: Augment our food security mission through the new site to significantly increase hot meal production.

Goal Two: Bolster food rescue and grocery distribution initiatives by maximizing storage and efficiency at the new site.

Goal Three: Elevate senior health with our Senior Nutrition Program: Deliver specialized, nutrient-dense meals to cater to senior needs, enhancing their vitality and addressing nutritional gaps.

At our food security nonprofit, leadership guides our journey to end hunger. Monthly, our team gathers with other nonprofits to discuss advocacy, amplify support, strategize, and nurture partnerships. Our Executive Director partakes in Sobrato Philanthropies' leadership sessions. Simultaneously, our senior team in the Silicon Valley Food Rescue Network aids in forging partnerships and devising food security solutions for Santa Clara County. Moreover, our Development Director is pursuing the CFRE credential, symbolizing our commitment to ethical fundraising. Emphasizing our commitment to data security, we have also completed Privacy & Information Security Awareness Training through Sourcewise. We channel most donations directly to meal programs, ensuring maximum impact. Currently, our leadership development focuses on time investment. Plans to broaden these initiatives to additional staff are set for FY 2023-2024.

Martha's Kitchen has long stood as a beacon of hope and resilience in the relentless fight against food insecurity. Located at 311 Willow Street, our main site for our operations has faced a series of challenges over the past year, particularly from the property owner. The restrictions, ranging from limiting operational hours, making last minute requests that affect services, to being outright denied the ability to add more service days, have placed stringent limits on our potential. However, these challenges never deterred us. Instead, they fueled our drive and commitment to the communities we serve. At Martha's Kitchen, we adapt, innovate, and persevere. Our strategies are always evolving, tailored to maximize our reach and ensure that every individual in need finds solace in the services we provide. Each month, our dedicated team rolls up their sleeves to provide nearly 250,000 meals to those we serve, a testament to our unwavering determination to bridge the food gap in our community. On top of that, our food rescue efforts have been nothing short of remarkable, rescuing around 35,000 pounds of food each month that would otherwise end up in the landfill. For over 40 years, our mission has remained steadfast. With every challenge, our vision has only grown clearer, and our determination has only grown stronger. As we stand on the cusp of a significant milestone, acquiring our first owned site, the excitement is palpable. This new chapter promises to be transformative, allowing us to exponentially elevate our services, and deepen the impact we make in the lives of those we serve. With this evolution, we're not just looking to continue our legacy, but to amplify it, reaching more hearts, more homes, and more tables than ever before.