Martha's Kitchen

The primary goal of Martha’s Kitchen is to serve food to hungry individuals. The Kitchen provides fresh produce, meat, poultry, and frozen and baked goods donated by volunteers, grocery stores, and produce markets.

Martha’s Kitchen was founded in 1981 by Louise Benson, who began helping hungry individuals by serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Since then, thousands of volunteers from local schools and communities have reached out and donated their time. In addition to feeding hungry folks on site, Martha’s Kitchen sends 2,500 meals weekly to shelters, drop-in centers, schools, and other agencies in Santa Clara County. Thanks to the contributions of donors and volunteers, by the end of 2018 the organization had served more than 4,500,000 meals.

Over the years, Martha’s Kitchen has partnered with many community organizations, including Home First, Alum Rock United Methodist, Elijah’s Men’s Home, and Goodwill. Martha’s Kitchen offers free showers and laundry in a partnership with Dignity on Wheels, and a free mobile health clinic in a partnership with Gardner Health.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a partnership with the Order of Malta has provided mobile meals as well as hygiene kits distributed along with produce to neighborhoods in need.