June 17, 2026

To: EHP Community Members

Re: EHP Family Sustainability Program

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For half a century, the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) has been deeply committed to serving the East Palo Alto community and providing critical assistance to individuals and families in need. We are aware of the recent media coverage regarding our tax filings and the questions it may have raised. We want to address the concerns of our donors, partners, and community with complete clarity and transparency.

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In the summer of 2021, when many, many Americans were suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, EHP observed that a large number of its own community members were negatively affected by the pandemic shutdown and were in dire financial need. EHP worked quickly to develop and introduce its Family Sustainability Program. The proposed $2 million program was designed as a 2-year, Safety-Net Resource Distribution with the intent to assist as many people as possible and as quickly as possible. The program was to provide individualized resource distribution in many areas, including but not limited to housing, food resources for those with special needs, prescriptions, utilities, gasoline, vehicle repairs, critical home repairs, critical medical supplies not covered by insurance, essential school supplies for children, including technology, and more. A primary program goal was to target local families and individuals in need of critical emergency support while the country rebounded from the effects of COVID-19. Program funding would come from unrestricted donations received by EHP.

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The Family Sustainability Program ultimately distributed $1,223,373 to 252 local individuals and families between 2022 and 2024. Emergency grants provided to applicants were used towards personal expenses, mortgages, rent, utilities, vehicle loans, traffic tickets, car repairs, medical bills, dental costs, past-due credit card balances, phone bills, unpaid debt, and numerous other items. Individuals and families seeking financial grants from EHP were required to submit an application. Program applicants included community members, but also included EHP employees and some family members of our Executive Director, Lesia Preston. All applications were subject to the same program standards, and all applications from Lesia’s family members were reviewed/approved by an independent Board member. Neither Lesia, nor any of her family members was involved in the decision-making process relating to grants issued to Lesia’s family members.

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In 2024, the EHP Board reviewed its Family Sustainability Program. Results were not dissimilar to other Covid-era financial assistance programs (i.e., PPP, SBA EIDL, etc.) in this country. In their haste to quickly provide relief, programs experienced weakness in oversight and internal controls. The EHP Board decided not to renew the Family Sustainability Program and instead focus EHP resources on the foundational programs traditionally offered by EHP (i.e., food resources, clothing, household essentials, holiday distributions, back-to-school distributions, etc.). EHP’s Family Sustainability Program weaknesses are reflected in the organization's financial statements and tax filings.

As an organization dedicated to service, EHP is always learning and striving to improve our governance. We acknowledge that the urgency of the pandemic led us to move as swiftly as possible to prevent our community members from falling through the cracks. However, in retrospect, more research should have been done before implementing the Family Sustainability Program, and more parameters should have been put in place before implementing this program.

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We take our fiduciary responsibilities seriously and are using this moment to strengthen our internal controls and effectiveness. We remain fully dedicated to our 50-year mission of fighting hunger and poverty, and we are deeply grateful for the community's continued trust and support.

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EHP helps everyone!

Sincerely,

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EHP Board of Directors