Our Story
Nestled between downtown San Jose and the quaint neighborhood of Willow Glen lies a "little soup kitchen" that began in 1981. Founder Louise Benson started this initiative out of her garage, preparing and distributing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for those in need. In 1981, she and her friends established Martha’s Kitchen at Sacred Heart Church, serving hot meals to the community. Named after the biblical figure who provided sustenance to Jesus and his followers, Martha’s Kitchen has grown to serve nearly 230,000 meals each month. With a commitment to food security, Martha’s Kitchen believes that access to nutritious meals is a basic human right, not a luxury.