We'd like to thank George’s Asphalt Paving for helping to make our property beautiful and safe.  George and John did an excellent job repaving our parking lot.  They were very detail oriented, responsive, and professional.  Thank you for caring about EHP and the people we serve!

Thank you Oak Knoll Elementary School students for the wonderful cards of inspiration to add to our food bags!

​In October 2015, EHP was the recipient of a generous donation, a result of the combined efforts of two Stanford community philanthropists who offered their handmade jewelry for sale during a two-day fundraiser earlier that month.
 
When Molly Agras met an EHP board member last summer and heard firsthand about the food and clothing distribution, as well as the many other EHP programs that help people in need, she stepped right up. “I’d like to hold a jewelry sale fundraiser in my home and donate the proceeds to EHP,” she proclaimed. “I could be ready by October.”
 
Molly, a retired businesswoman who for the past several years has supported various organizations with an annual fundraiser, delivered on that promise. She started by adding several pieces to her inventory of beautiful handmade jewelry. Later she met with EHP’s Executive Director, Lesia Preston, to coordinate publicity efforts. “I was delighted to meet Molly,” said Lesia. “Her jewelry is amazing, and we’re so grateful for her enormous efforts to support EHP!
 
Molly also enlisted her friend Joy Scott, another skilled jewelry maker and philanthropist, to participate in the sale benefitting EHP. “I’m happy to share my proceeds with EHP,” said Joy, a retired librarian, whose next fundraiser, which will be in her own home studio, will benefit Doctors Without Borders.
 
On October 16 and 17, Molly opened her home studio on the Stanford campus to an enthusiastic group of people eager to support EHP and purchase jewelry made by Molly and Joy.
 
“We need to get the word out about EHP,” Molly declared at the end of her successful fundraiser. Her charitable spirit always active, Molly was already thinking ahead, assuming that the more people know about EHP, the more likely it is they will become supporters and volunteers.   

First and foremost being a Gordon no matter the last name difference, means EVERYTHING to the children that we come into contact with whether biological, extended or adopted. It was a miracle for us, to have come into contact with EHP program/resources and their caring staff. The high spirits within EHP staff is so admirable an appreciated. Through the years they have blessed my family in our times of need (food, clothing, appliances, furniture etc), and whenever any member of my family birthday came about, they made calls to us an sent their wishes of happy birthdays, as well as invited the children to their monthly celebrations. And for the holidays they bless the children in my Family with gifts, which always warms their hearts with appreciation. When we come to EHP, whether a need or just to say hello and thank you, they are always so welcoming. EHP isn't just a program or resource they are an extended family to us. When you have an organization that checks in with their families they help throughout the year and shows great passion for the work that they do and treat you as they would treat themselves, its a beautiful thing. So from the Gordon Family: Randy, Psalmoniac, Jamea, Clint, Jamari, Azariah, Mykahla, A'rmoni, and Randy JR we thank you EHP, we are forever grateful!

​We’d like to thank our wonderful Board members for providing lunch for us during the holiday distribution.  The holidays are the busiest time of the year and staff time is limited.

Thank you,
EHP staff

New Beginnings Community Church in Mountain View is committed to transforming communities by engaging in service projects and contributing financially to reputable organizations. On Saturday, December 12, Senior Pastor Hurmon Hamilton, along with his wife, Rhonda, and daughter, Lauren, joined with others from the congregation to make a difference at EHP. The day was filled with enthusiastic volunteers servicing all facets of the campus, including grooming, decorating, stocking the food closet, sorting in the warehouse, and other tasks. The day culminated with NBCC Director of Transforming Communities Evelyn Powery presenting Executive Director Lesia Preston with a check for $10,000.  In total, NBCC has donated $15,000 to EHP.  We are extremely grateful and impressed by the leadership and level of generosity from the congregation of New Beginnings Community Church.

Pastor Hurmon Hamilton and wife Rhonda volunteering with their congregation at EHP.

​DLA Piper has strong roots in Silicon Valley, where its predecessor firm Ware & Freidenrich was founded in the 1960s.  Today, DLA Piper is one of the three largest law firms in the world with more than 80 offices across the United States and in more than 30 countries.  Still, the firm continues its decades-long relationship with the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP), which provides direct services to families and individuals in need in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and surrounding communities.
 
DLA Piper’s local offices in East Palo Alto are on University Avenue near the intersection of the 101 Freeway.  The firm’s relationship with EHP began in the mid-1980s, when Nevida Butler, then executive director of EHP, recruited the help of Tom French, a former partner at DLA Piper in East Palo Alto.  Tom and a then young real estate lawyer who had just joined the firm, Jim Anderson, are among many at DLA Piper who have helped EHP grow from a food pantry into the substantial nonprofit it is today.  EHP is the largest direct food provider to families in need in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
 
Tom French was the first of many DLA Piper attorneys who have served on the EHP Board of Directors.  Tom served two terms as Chair of the EHP Board of Directors and was instrumental in forming the Friends of EHP, an advisory board-like body comprised of former EHP board members, volunteers, donors and representatives of corporate sponsors like DLA Piper.
Jim Anderson, who has also served twice as Chair of the EHP Board of Directors, currently serves as Vice Chair in his fourth term on the board.  He and the other board members help provide financial and operational oversight, ensure adequate resources and raise funds to enable EHP to fulfill its mission.
Jim’s experience in real estate law was also instrumental in helping EHP grow from its first offices in a church to a four-building campus on Pulgas Road in East Palo Alto that it owns (debt free) today.
DLA Piper, through its non-profit affiliate, New Perimeter, is at the forefront in the legal industry and business community in providing assistance to charitable organizations and academic institutions.  Every lawyer across the firm is encouraged to make a serious and sustained effort to provide pro bono work and contribute to the community.  In 2014, the firm devoted more than 200,000 hours to pro bono initiatives, which makes DLA Piper one of the world’s largest providers of pro bono services.
EHP has maintained its “grass roots” by continuing to provide personal and customized services to individuals and families in the region.  Similarly, the lawyers and professionals at DLA Piper don’t just play an advisory role to EHP; they are involved at the grass-roots and the local level.
This year, the firm will have over 25 volunteers assisting with EHP’s holiday distributions and those who work at the firm have personally contributed more than $10,000 to the holiday drive.  Their donations over the years have included hundreds of toys, gift cards, clothing, food items and even cars for families in need.  The firm is also a leading fundraiser for EHP, sponsoring the annual Steppin’ Out Event.
Jim Anderson of DLA Piper summed up the firm’s commitment to the local nonprofit, “EHP provides both myself and our local office with the opportunity to connect with the broader community in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and surrounding areas.  The firm’s volunteer opportunities at EHP help contribute to the local community – and to team building. We love supporting EHP with our food drives and fundraisers because we know the food, clothes, household goods and funds that we raise go directly to those in our community that need some help.”