About Us
Read our Spring 2025 Newsletter - the latest from Santa Maria
Santa Maria's legacy of community service - helping to transform lives
Santa Maria's History
We know our clients by name; we know their children and their grandchildren. We now have families with children attending college.
Santa Maria Urban Ministry was founded in 1983 to provide emergency food to impoverished families in downtown San Jose, California. Santa Maria has provided a food pantry continuously for 40 years.
Since our beginnings, we have listened to the community needs and started many new services that not only address immediate necessities but to also empower families and individuals to transform their circumstances. To address the increasing numbers of homeless, our Warm Hearts Initiative provides unhoused members of our community with bagged lunches, hygiene kits and in the winter sleeping bags and other resources.
An outreach ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, Santa Maria welcomes people of all faiths or none and does not discriminate on any basis.
Our Mission
The mission of Santa Maria Urban Ministry is to feed the body, mind, and spirit of the individuals in our community by providing them with food and other basic services, educational programs for all ages, and opportunities to give back through volunteer service.
Our Core Values
Dignity and respect for all people
Compassion for the under-served
Empowerment of community members to alleviate the impact of poverty
Catalyzing uplifting transformation of the community via a safe, welcoming place with relevant programs
Education as the key to transformation and better futures
Collaboration with our community to provide valued services
Building meaningful relationships with community members
Meet Our Staff
Louis Powell, Executive Director
Louis joined the team in March of 2025. With more than 30 years of nonprofit and business leadership experience, Louis is committed to growing meaningful partnerships, strengthening community programs, and ensuring everyone who walks through our doors is welcomed with dignity, respect, and the opportunity to thrive. He is delighted to be part of the strong Santa Maria Community.
Alfonso Mendez, Operations Director
Alfonso came to the Ministry in 2001 as a volunteer, first working in the warehouse food pantry and then becoming a front desk volunteer. He joined us as an employee in 2010.
Alfonso trains and supervises our many dedicated volunteers. Alfonso is dedicated to both improving the lives of our clients and providing fulfilling volunteer opportunities at Santa Maria.
Fernando
Torres
Warehouse Manager
Jesús
Gonzalez
Front Desk Coordinator
(Part-Time)
Board of Directors
Our Dedicated Board
Santa Maria Urban Ministry is grateful for the work of its Board of Directors.
The Board is currently dedicated to accomplishing the many goals they have set for Santa Maria. Our current Board Members include:
Rosalinda Aguilar
Laura Bravo
Barbara Fishman
Victor Niemeyer
Mike Orlando
Lewis Pollard
Kenneth Rousseau
Susan Stanat
Peter Troop
We are actively seeking volunteers committed to our mission to join our board. Please contact us for more information.
