HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-09 Ecumenical Hunger Program
HONORING THE ECUMENICAL HUNGER PROGRAM FOR 50 YEARS OF
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE WHEREAS, the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) was founded in 1975 by Miriam Nixon Hope and
Church Women United as a grassroots effort to distribute surplus food to neighborhood pantries, and was formally
incorporated in 1978 as a nonprofit organization; and
WHEREAS, under the dedicated leadership of Nevida Butler, EHP began providing direct services in 1981
and has since grown into the largest direct emergency food provider serving East Palo Alto and Menlo Park,
distributing not only food but also clothing, furniture, and household goods, while offering case management,
referrals, and advocacy for those in need; and
WHEREAS, EHP offers a wide range of vital food programs, including emergency food assistance, hot
lunches through a partnership with other local agencies, individual food bags for the unhoused, and fresh produce
distribution from both Second Harvest Silicon Valley and its own organic garden; and
WHEREAS, EHP supports children and families through its Back-to-School program, holiday gift and food
distributions, the Snack Bag Program, the Cake4Kids birthday program, and the Family Sharing Program –
promoting stability and well-being for local students and providing personalized gifts and support to families
facing hardship during the holidays; and
WHEREAS, under the current leadership of Lesia Preston over the last 15 years, EHP remains rooted in its
founding values of dignity, equity, and compassion, continuing to offer customized, culturally sensitive services
that reflect the diverse needs of the community, while expanding its programs and volunteer efforts across
generations.
NOW, THEREFORE I, Ed Lauing, Mayor of the City of Palo Alto, do hereby commend the Ecumenical
Hunger Program for its 50 years of extraordinary service, its unwavering dedication to equity and food justice,
and its transformative role in supporting families and individuals in East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and beyond.
Presented: August 9, 2025
______________________________ Ed Lauing Mayor
Proclamation