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On a brisk Saturday morning in December, a long line of people patiently waited outside the doors of Trinity United Methodist Church in Mountain View. Greeted with a smile, they were ushered into a large dining area where volunteers served quiche, sausage and potatoes along with salad, fresh fruit and coffee.
For nearly 15 years, Hope’s Corner has been dishing up hot meals to people in need. The nonprofit got its start in the parking lot of the church at 748 Mercy St. in downtown Mountain View. During those early days, volunteers handed out breakfast sandwiches to people who were unhoused and hungry.
Since then, Hope’s Corner has served more than 300,000 meals, offering hot breakfasts and bagged lunches three times a week. The nonprofit also delivers meals to people living in vehicles and provides free showers, laundry services and bicycle repairs.
This year, Hope’s Corner has served more than 60,000 meals, an increase from the 50,000 meals served in 2024, according to Mike Hacker, a volunteer and board member. He attributed the uptick to the nonprofit’s expanded meal delivery service. More meals are going out on more days to people living in vehicles.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” Hacker said. “We’re seeing a lot of new faces, people we haven’t seen before.”
Sitting at a crowded table, Clare Maloney said she only recently started coming to Hope’s Corner after learning that it provided hot food. Currently, Maloney is staying at the Heart and Home Women’s Cold Weather Shelter in Palo Alto.
“I’m so hungry, I have two plates and a takeout container,” Maloney said, gesturing to a plate of leftover food that was given to her by a friend. But it’s not only the meals that have drawn Maloney to Hope’s Corner. It’s also a joyful place, she said. The volunteers make a big difference, she added.
Last year, there were more than 900 volunteers who helped out at Hope’s Corner, Hacker said. This year, the nonprofit is on strong footing with continued support from individuals and the business community. But needs are growing and the price of food and supplies are more expensive than before, according to Hacker.
Back in October, it was difficult for low-income households to afford groceries with the pause on federal programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as CalFresh in California. More people started coming into Hope’s Corner for food, Hacker said.
Caleb Annis, a meal program assistant, noted that it used to be typical for the nonprofit to go through two crates of milk per meal service. “We’ve gone through five today,” he said.
The bicycle repair program also has been particularly popular. Hope’s Corner has repaired more than 700 bicycles this year, mostly related to flat tires and brakes, according to Tori Reyes, a volunteer mechanic. The nonprofit also has given out nearly 70 donated bikes since January. One client told Reyes that the repaired bike helped him get to a job interview, she said.
The nonprofit has plans to expand some of its other services as well, like its laundry program. Currently there is one washer and dryer on site. Sometimes there are so many loads to do that they are taken to a nearby laundromat, Hacker said. The nonprofit is looking to install more washers and dryers next year.
Waiting by the showers, Abele Topete said he has been coming to Hope’s Corner for about five months, usually three times a week.
“The food is good and they’re helping me try for housing,” Topete said, before heading off to take a warm shower.
Hope’s Corner is a recipient of the Mountain View Voice holiday fund. Each year, donations to the Holiday Fund are divided equally among a group of local nonprofits that serve people in need. The Voice and Embarcadero Media Foundation, the nonprofit that now publishes the Voice, absorb all administrative costs to run the fund, and all donations are tax-deductible.
For more information about the Holiday Fund, go to mv-voice.com/holiday-fund. To give a donation online, go to embarcaderomediafoundation.org/holiday-fund/mountain-view. Checks can be made payable to Mountain View Voice Holiday Fund and sent to 2345 Yale St., FL 1, Palo Alto, CA 94306. The Holiday Fund campaign will run through mid-January, with grants awarded in the spring.
