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Help Naresh keep the Open Hands Pantry pantry stocked

Help keep a free food pantry open for families facing hunger in San Diego.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ San Diego, California, United States2,504 views
Naresh L. Oberoi
Email verifiedPhoto verified
San Diego
Since 2022, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Thursday from the back of the parish hall. We started with 19 families, and now we feed 74 each week. Donations have dropped by about 40% this winter, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 17 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the San Diego market and keep every receipt. Each $45 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $3,450 goes: โ€ข Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $1,800 โ€ข Fresh vegetables and fruit: $900 โ€ข Baby formula and diapers: $570 โ€ข Refrigeration and electricity: $180 Every share and every dollar helps.

Updates from Naresh

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  • Nam Long Phung ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $5
  • Isla K. Wade ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ยท $19
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ยท $25
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $200
  • Cristian C. Bravo ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ยท $25

    โ€œPraying for you. Hope the January deadline works out. - Ciudad de Mรฉxicoโ€

  • Radhika L. Raman ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $20
  • Naufal Erlangga Santoso ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $50

    โ€œEvery little bit. Thought of Naresh all day after reading this. - Kediriโ€

  • Dinesh Madushan Rajapaksa ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ยท $35
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $30
  • Nakato Joyce Onyango ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟ ยท $25
  • Deepak G. Garg ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $10
  • Rohan K. Negi ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $50

    โ€œThinking of you. Hope the January deadline works out. - Hamiltonโ€

  • Ignacio J. Villalobos ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $20
  • Shai Yonatan Cohen ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ ยท $100
  • Ishita F. Chopra ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $50

    โ€œSending love. I'm in Agra, thinking of you. - Agraโ€

  • Rylee R. Green ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ยท $25
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $50
  • Paulo Murilo Siqueira ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $10
  • Akinyi Wambui Odhiambo ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $500

    โ€œHope it all works out. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Guluโ€

  • Julien Marc Barre ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $25

Reviews

3.1(8 reviews)

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

  • Wellington Joaquim Soares๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ทVerified helper
    Professional and kind

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

  • Ricardo W. Castro๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธVerified helper
    Helped when no one else could

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Hellen Adhiambo Ouma๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟVerified donor
    Restored my faith in humanity

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Vandana W. Maurya๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Patient and understanding

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Francis H. Francisco๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญVerified helper
    Genuine person with a big heart

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Meet F. Joshi๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified helper
    Made me feel heard

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

  • Kayode Seyi Obi๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌVerified helper
    Genuine person with a big heart

    The help I received was exactly what was described and more. This person follows through on their commitments and genuinely cares about making a positive impact.

  • Maria Clรกudia Farias๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ทVerified helper
    Amazing support system

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

Questions & comments

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  • Sending love, Naresh. Great idea, hope you get there

    • Thinking of you and your family. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Thinking of San Diego.

      • I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. It's not much but it's yours. Greetings from Girona

        • stay strong, Naresh. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. My husband and I read this together. God bless.

          • Wishing you the best. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend. Greetings from San Francisco.

            • Good luck. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. We're a small family in Gazipur but we're thinking of you. Love from Gazipur

              • Praying for you, Naresh. More neighborhoods should do this. Blessings

                • your post was clear and honest. I'm in engineering myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Take care.

                  • Rooting for you, Naresh. More neighborhoods should do this.

                    $2,656.50 raised of $3,450

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