Open Heart Kitchen Seeks To Raise $3M For Food Redistribution Site

LIVERMORE, CA —The Open Heart Kitchen continues to work toward building the Open Heart Food Bank, which will serve as a food redistribution site inside a 19,000-square-foot warehouse on Marathon Drive in Livermore. The organization is seeking to raise $3 million, which has started with a matching campaign from the Community Health & Education Foundation. For every $2 donated, CHEF will match $1, with an ultimate goal of arriving at $75,000.

“The Open Heart Food Bank will serve as a redistribution site for Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore where we can support other small and local food pantries with fresh produce and grocery items,” said Open Heart Executive Director John Bost in a statement.

“In the event of a disaster-related emergency that would affect the Tri-Valley region, like an earthquake or wildfire, the Open Heart Food Bank can also serve as a food receiving and distribution center when the unthinkable happens. This buildout will require the support of Open Heart Kitchen’s donors and community partners to invest in the organization’s growth and the launch of the Open Heart Food Bank.”

Open Heart has also received funding from the Alameda County Community Food Bank, Livermore Valley Wine Auction, Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance, and Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley.

“The Open Heart Food Bank will create an infrastructure for large-scale food distribution in the Tri-Valley. Right now that does not exist and we are still experiencing the devastating impacts of cuts to food assistance programs and the end of emergency COVID funding,” Development Director Denise Boulter said in a statement. “Our goal is to redistribute 1 million pounds of food annually within the first decade of the Open Heart Food Bank’s operation. In order to build this important and necessary food bank, now is the time to help.”

To donate, visit chefgivingcommunity.org/BringTheHope.