Our Story

The History of Heart of Compassion

Heart of Compassion began in 1993 when founder, Pastor Eric Tietze, went door-to-door in the community of Pico Rivera inviting neighbors to a free breakfast in a church parking lot. His purpose? To share the Word of God through what he calls the "labor of love." 

When the Saturday morning breakfast grew to over 100 people, Pastor Eric sought donations to keep the project going. As word spread, he officially started the ministry Heart of Compassion, expanding its mission to not only feed neighbors on-site but also send them home with food for their families. Soon, hundreds of people from other parts of Los Angeles County began arriving to receive this blessing.

From these humble beginnings, Heart of Compassion has grown into a major food bank and distribution center, providing over 19 million pounds of goods annually, including food, clothing, furniture, toys, hygiene products, and more. Today, we serve communities across Southern California.

At Heart of Compassion, we believe it’s important to remind everyone that there are people in our own communities who are hungry and in need. With one in six Americans struggling with hunger, Heart of Compassion not only raises awareness but also takes action to feed, empower, and transform lives.

The Heart of our Mission

Our organization is powered by an almost entirely volunteer-based workforce. In 2024 alone, volunteers logged over 30,000 hours, allowing us to distribute $38 million worth of food and goods to those in need. From students to retirees, our volunteers play a crucial role in keeping our mission alive.

We are also privileged to partner with over 150 non-profit organizations, including food banks, homeless shelters, children’s organizations, afterschool programs, and senior centers, ensuring that nutritious food and essential items reach the most vulnerable members of our community.

Beyond Food Distributions

At Heart of Compassion, we understand that food insecurity is often tied to other life challenges. That’s why we also provide social services designed to meet a variety of needs. These programs include:

• Transitional Housing: A faith-based, 1-year program for men recovering from addiction, offering support and job training for men.
• Education and Life Skills: GED and literacy classes, anger management courses, and resume preparation.
• Workforce Certifications: Training and certification programs in food preparation and forklift operation to increase job opportunities.

These services are designed to help individuals overcome barriers and create pathways to independence and stability.

Join Us in Fighting Hunger and Feeding Hope

Since our founding, Heart of Compassion has been dedicated to serving as the “hands and feet of compassion” and a “lighthouse of hope” for those facing hard times. We remain committed to offering food, resources, and hope to anyone in need.
Together, we can continue to transform lives through the power of compassion.

Heart of Compassion (HOC) Distribution is a 501(c)(3) food bank and social service organization.  HOC works to alleviate hunger, food insecurities and the suffering of those who have fallen on hard times.

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• We are  lighthouse of volunteers fighting poverty and restoring hope.
• We empower residents in local communities living in poverty to achieve self-sufficiency.  

We achieve our mission by collecting, packaging, and distributing food to low-income communities through public food distributions and through partnerships with a network of service agencies and programs.  Heart of Compassion not only distributes food to families in need, but also serves as a hub to provide transitional housing, occupational training, and vocational rehabilitation.  In addition, we partner with other non-profits, local officials, and community supporters.

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"CLICK" image to see how our food distributions normally operate