Community Resilience
We meet immediate needs with dignity through food access, mutual support, and youth empowerment—helping families move from crisis toward stability and connection.
Comida Para Cherryland
Comida Para Cherryland is Eden Church’s community food ministry, providing fresh groceries and nutritious food to local families with dignity and care.
Since opening in 2011 as part of our Compañeras Ministry, Comida has become a trusted resource for hundreds of households, the vast majority of whom live in the urban unincorporated communities of Cherryland, Ashland, San Lorenzo, and Hayward Acres.
Operating on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, Comida is more than a food pantry—it is a place of connection, mutual support, and community resilience. Through this ministry, we seek to ensure that every neighbor has access to healthy food while strengthening the bonds that help our community thrive.
Hours & Location
2nd and 4th Wednesday
1:30pm - 4:00pm or until food is gone
Numbers for service are distributed intermittently from 10am onward
Oliver Hall, Eden Church
Our Impact
10,000 pounds of food
distributed since 2020
1.5 million pounds of food
distributed annually
Learn More or Volunteer
To volunteer or for more information about the food pantry, please contact our Compañeras Coordinator, Lorena Espinoza
Compañeras
Since 2011, Eden’s Compañeras Ministry acts in solidarity with our neighbors. Our priorities are based on the strengths and needs of both the congregation and community.
Goals
Reduce violence by investing in our Cherryland youth
Contribute to economic development in Cherryland
Advocate for state and federal immigration policy reform
Create and implement cultural integration opportunities in our church and community
Promote community health and public health partnerships
Cherryland Youth Leadership Institute (ChYLIs)
The ChYLI program is a home-grown Summer program for young people in the community of Cherryland that provides horizon-broadening opportunities, leadership development, practical skill-sets, and a cohort environment for the purpose of collective empowerment and positive community transformation.
Eligibility
Be between 14-17 years of age
Be entering 9-12 grades next academic term
Be a resident of Cherryland or the Eden Area
Check back in the spring to register for the summer program!
Our Impact
200+ youth
have participated in ChYLI since 2011
How is the ChYLI program funded?
Each summer, 12–18 local youth participate in an immersive leadership experience designed to cultivate the next generation of community changemakers. Through contextual learning opportunities both inside and outside the Bay Area, participants engage issues of social justice, anti-racism, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and community leadership. Whether spending a day with a marine biologist in Monterey, meeting with elected officials at the State Capitol, or learning from grassroots organizers, ChYLI youth gain the tools, confidence, and vision to help transform their communities.
These horizon-expanding experiences require community investment. You can support the leadership development of Cherryland youth by making a contribution through the link below and selecting the “Cherryland Youth Leadership Institute” fund. Together, we can empower young people to build a more just, equitable, and compassionate future.