Martha's Village & Kitchen has been serving hot meals to homeless people for nearly 35 years, originally powered by a parish kitchen, a $5 donation, and a small group of dedicated volunteers.
Today, the Indio-based nonprofit is a powerhouse in the Coachella Valley, providing life-changing programs that address the needs of the poor and homeless, while also providing solutions to difficult situations. One of their main goals is to help people become self-sufficient, productive citizens, and feel like they have their lives restored.
“We want people who come into our program to be self-sufficient,” says Sam Hollenbeck, president and CEO of Martha's Village & Kitchen. “We want them to have the skills they need when they leave here and are on their own. We want them to be able to function in society. When they come into our program, we help them with that.”
Hollenbeck says that includes finding out what kind of benefits the individual may be eligible for. “We help you find housing. We help you figure out where to get documents like a driver's license and a Social Security card that you need to get a job and be ready to get out on your own.”
These are just a few of the unique components of this nonprofit in its ongoing mission to address both the causes and symptoms of homelessness. Other notable programs include children's services, emergency assistance and housing, health services, and case management.
In addition to daily meal service, the organization also provides cooling centers and public showers.
Recently, Martha's Village & Kitchen received a grant from the Todd Barajas Legacy Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and a portion of the grant will be used for a new vehicle for the organization's Indio office.
“The vehicles are extremely useful for a variety of purposes, including community outreach efforts and our homeless recovery care programs,” Hollenbeck said. “Have you ever heard the term 'street dumping'? This is what used to happen in the past when homeless people had to go to the hospital because they were sick or injured. They would be admitted, but at some point the hospital would run out of money and they would literally take the patient and dump them on the street.”
Restorative Care was born out of brainstorming sessions with local organizations, including Integrated Health Partners and Kaiser, and now those hospitalized patients are referred to Martha's Village & Kitchen, which has multiple patient rooms.
“This facility allows them to come here and continue their rehabilitation and treatment until they recover and, in the worst case scenario, recover to the point where they can return to the streets. In the best case scenario, while they're here in our care, we can integrate them into our mainstream programs so they never end up back on the streets again.”
When asked what many locals might not know about Martha's Village & Kitchen, Hollenbeck was candid.
“That's exactly what it is. We want people to know more,” he says. “We've literally debated changing our name, because when people hear Martha's Village & Kitchen, they think of Martha's Kitchen. We're thought of as a kitchen. We're so much more than that.”
The nonprofit served more than 300,000 meals last year, including to the general public and residents of its facilities, but programs account for an even bigger share. Hollenbeck is quick to point to the organization's child development center, which serves children up to age 5, as an example.
Additionally, thanks to county and state-run programs, the nonprofit can accommodate up to 55 students per day.
Meanwhile, donations, planned giving, sponsored food drives and other dynamic elements permeate the village's diverse mix and make it strong.
For more information about Martha's Village & Kitchen, visit marthasvillage.org.
The Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen inland Southern California through philanthropy. Visit iegives.org .
