Everyone deserves a home. We all know that, and yet trying to figure out how to help overcome the problem of homelessness is daunting. That’s why we are so thankful for organizations in our communities whose mission is to help people find a way out of homelessness and into homes of their very own. To support their work, and to be good neighbors and community members ourselves, we  give 1% of net sales from our L.A. and Berkeley stores to charitable partners working to solve these issues: People Assisting the Homeless (Path) in L.A., and the Berkeley Food and Housing Project (BFHP) in Berkeley.

So far this year, that 1% has translated into almost $17,000 for PATH. And since its grand opening in July, our Berkeley store has contributed $6,000 to BFHP so far.

Berkeley Food and Housing Project

Founded in 1970, Berkeley Food and Housing Project has worked to ease and end the crisis of homelessness for men, women, and children in the Berkeley community for over 40 years. With programs ranging from free meal service to permanent supportive housing, BFHP provides a continuum of care to accommodate a broad spectrum of specialized needs, and helps over 2,000 people each year.

Berkeley Food and Housing Project always welcomes donations and support through its volunteer opportunities With the holidays approaching, one great way to show support is by giving to their food, toy and gift drives. They will also be in need of volunteer groups to help decorate sites, sort donations, and serve at  major holiday meals. To find out more about how you can help BFHP this holiday season, call or email Whitney at 510.809.8585 or whubbard@bfhp.org.

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PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)

PATH is a family of agencies working together to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities throughout southern California. They strive to do this by prioritizing housing while providing customized supportive services for people in need. Their agencies each address homelessness in a different way—through supportive services, permanent housing development, support for homeless families, and community engagement—all of which ultimately help the people they serve find a home. Using its multi-faceted approach, PATH helped provide housing for 1,608 people last year.

PATH offers a variety of ways to volunteer, donate, and get involved. One easy way to participate is to attend their “imaginary feast.” What, exactly, is an imaginary feast? It’s PATH’s alternative to a black tie fundraiser. In their own words: “Events are expensive. During the holidays, when need is felt the strongest, it’s especially important to put every penny where it will do the most good: Helping people in need. We’re asking you to skip the black tie fundraiser and donate what you would have spent on tickets, clothing, and dinner directly to PATH instead. This way, your contribution can start moving people off the streets and into homes right away.” Donate at www.imaginaryfeast.org, and find out more about PATH at www.path.org.

In addition to thanking these incredible organizations for all their work, we’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you, our customer, for helping us help them.