BellaVista and HIF team up for the Ecumenical Hunger Program
Renovation Program Champion and long-time supporter and friend of HIF, BellaVista Landscape Services, transformed a community garden for the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) in East Palo Alto. Thanks to Matt and Brian Moore, Ryan Erickson and the great team at BellaVista for donating 100% of their labor and materials to fully irrigate and expand the garden space at EHP which provides fresh and healthy produce for local residents in need.
Thanks to Brian Cilker and Pine Cone Lumber for donating the materials needed to build the beautiful raised planter boxes. And thanks to Lyngso Garden Materials for the beautiful soil for the garden and to LaTrice Taylor and the team at Samaritan House for feeding our volunteers!
EHP has been in the safety net business since its founding in 1975 by Miriam Nixon Hope and a group from Church Women United who channeled surplus and donated food to neighborhood pantries where it was then distributed to families in need. EHP’s mission is to provide compassionate, dignified and practical assistance to families and individuals experiencing economic and personal hardship. They offer material help, support services, and advocacy for neighbors in need, in a challenging and rapidly changing environment.
EHP serves working families, seniors, people with limited incomes and those who have both emergency and on-going needs in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and surrounding communities.
“With the expansion of our sustainable garden, EHP will be able to double our yield and offer a wider variety of fresh, organic produce to our neighbors-in-need. We look forward to having our families and interested community members volunteer in our new garden”, said Leisha Preston. “EHP is grateful for the support of HIF and Bella Vista Landscaping, Pine Cone Lumber, and Lyngso Garden Material for bringing our Garden Project to fruition.”
Matt Moore, Senior Vice President at BellaVista said: “The BellaVista team had a really nice time working with HIF and the rest of the EHP team and HIF volunteers. It is important to our company and our employees that we continue to give back to the community and we are proud of our long partnership with HIF helping to make an impact on local agencies and residents.”BellaVista team was joined by HIF board members, their guests and some great volunteers from Equity Residential to help with the garden rehab, help support EHP’s Clothing Closet and prep food bags for hundreds of local residents.
If you know of an organization in need of volunteers or a renovation project or if you’d like to support HIF’s Renovation Program, contact HIF: info@hifinfo.org
