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On a Saturday morning, a long line of people patiently wait to sit down for a hot meal at Hope’s Corner. The scene is a typical one for the Mountain View nonprofit, which has been serving plates of food to the city’s neediest residents for well over a decade.
Hope’s Corner began as a small operation in the parking lot of Trinity United Methodist Church in 2011, with a few volunteers handing out warm breakfast sandwiches to people facing homelessness and food insecurity.
Since then, Hope’s Corner has expanded its scope, serving more than 1,000 people a month, according to its website. It provides hot meals and bag lunches three times a week while also offering shower and laundry services, bicycle repairs, clothing and toiletry donations and other critical services.
This year, Hope’s Corner reached a major milestone, dishing up 250,000 meals since it first opened.
“Food insecurity is very prevalent in this area despite what people might think,” said Madeline Locke, who got her start as a volunteer before taking on the role of corporate engagement program manager at Hope’s Corner.
But the milestone is not cause for celebration. “We’re not delighted to serve 250,000 meals. It means there’s an issue,” Locke said.
Even during the COVID pandemic, Hope’s Corner never missed a meal although it had to change its operation to take out service only. Last year, it resumed its Saturday sit-down breakfast as part of a larger endeavor to foster a sense of community. “We really encourage people to eat together,” Locke said, noting that people also can carry out a second container of food after sitting down for a meal.
Most people who participate in the meal program are from Mountain View, approximately 67%, according to a 2023 annual report. But Hope’s Corner also attracts people from surrounding cities, with many looking for the chance to eat a warm meal in a welcoming environment.
“The food is really good and nutritious,” said one diner who regularly comes in from San Jose. “Most places just give soup and sandwiches, but this is the ‘cream of the crop,’” he said, noting that the staff and volunteers also join them when eating. “It shows that what they are giving out is good enough for them too.”
Next year, Hope’s Corner is planning to extend its meal service to provide 250 additional meals each week, as part of a campaign to serve more people in the community. The meals will help support people living in nearby shelters and safe parking sites, Locke said.
The bicycle repair program at Hope’s Corner also has been a big hit with the community, as seen on a recent Saturday morning where nearly two dozen bikes were being serviced by volunteers. “We’re looking to expand this program as well,” Locke said, noting that they always could use more volunteers to fix bicycles. Having enough spare parts tends to be an issue too, she said.
Fred Shepherd, a longtime patron, had no complaints though. Shepherd has been coming to Hope’s Corner for years, drawn in by its meals, services and inclusive community. “It’s one of the better places,” Shepherd said, explaining that he has been unhoused at different periods in his life and has a lot of experience with other programs and shelters. “They really care about people,” he said, referring to the organization’s staff and volunteers.
Hope’s Corner also helped Shepherd find an apartment. It took about eight months but was well worth the wait, he said. Now Shepherd is looking to give back to the community, hopefully as a volunteer at Hope’s Corner, he said.
To help fund its many programs, including upcoming ones like its annual Holiday Toy Drive, Hope’s Corner relies on ongoing community support.
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 its Holiday Fund partner, the nonprofit Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 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.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 early January, with grants awarded in the spring.
