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Help Armando keep the Open Hands Pantry pantry stocked

Armando runs a volunteer pantry feeding 334 families; this fund restocks shelves for the summer.

🇺🇸 United States2,948 views
Armando W. Nava
Email verifiedDriver licence verified
San Jose
Since 2019, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Monday from the back of a community center. We started with 13 families, and now we feed 334 each week. Donations have dropped by about 49% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 9 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the San Jose market and keep every receipt. Each $40 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $2,800 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $2,000 • Baby formula and diapers: $610 • Refrigeration and electricity: $190 Even a small gift gets used right away and I'll thank you myself.

Updates from Armando

No updates yet. Supporters are notified when the owner posts one.

  • Zeynep Pınar Keskin 🇩🇪 · $50
  • Sagar Ram Maharjan 🇳🇵 · $20
  • Melanie M. Moreno 🇦🇺 · $20
  • Selim Ali Çelik 🇩🇪 · $10

    “Stay strong. Thought of Armando all day after reading this.”

  • Victoria Long 🇺🇸 · $20

    “Hope this helps. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Albany”

  • Priscila Daniela Rocha 🇧🇷 · $25

    “Thinking of you. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Ribeirão Preto”

  • Shruthi K. Sundaram 🇮🇳 · $17
  • Anonymous 🇧🇷 · $50
  • Pranav G. Garg 🇮🇳 · $53
  • Kumara Prasanna Gamage 🇱🇰 · $100
  • Derek Little 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Laura Romane Guillot 🇫🇷 · $50

    “Happy to help. This is from my last paycheck, glad to do it. - Rennes”

  • Kirana Lestari Purnomo 🇮🇩 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Yusuf Yusuf Tampubolon 🇮🇩 · $30
  • Neelam C. Bhatia 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Ella L. Berry 🇨🇦 · $10
  • Makoto Jiro Miyamoto 🇯🇵 · $74

    “Hang in there. Thought of Armando all day after reading this. - Kyoto”

  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $75
  • Yuri Nikolai Andreev 🇷🇺 · $16

Reviews

4.0(2 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Emiliano S. Fernández🇲🇽Verified donor
    Patient and understanding

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Fernando Caio Martins🇧🇷Verified helper
    Exceeded expectations

    I can't speak highly enough about this helper. They were available when I needed them, supportive when I felt lost, and practical in their solutions.

Questions & comments

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  • Hope things get better soon, Armando. Great idea, hope you get there. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like.

    • Sending strength. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I'm in nursing myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Take care

      • I hope things turn around soon. Sent it to 28 people at work. Take care.

        • Praying for you. Your post was clear and honest. I'll check back for the next update. Love from Paris.

          • Hope things get better soon, Armando. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. God bless.

            • Thanks for sharing this. Gave what I could, wish it was more. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. God bless.

              $3,236 raised of $2,800

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