Sheltering at Home Without a Home
Tax deductible
Our Story
It wasn't long ago we found ourselves among a throng of people at the local Trader Joe's, stocking up on food and supplies for a potential shelter-at-home. We were exhausted, stressed, hungry, and ready to go home by the time we reached our last stop. People rushed around us with carts piled high as shelves ran low, while others waited impatiently for grim-faced cashiers to serve endless lines. The chaotic scene was blinding. Almost out of sight, practically out of mind, there was someone that didn't quite fit in with the rest of the puzzle.
That someone was Tom. Tom had just walked to the vet's office to get a rabies shot for his pet dog, D.O.G. The $100 hurt coming out of his wallet, but D.O.G. was his lifelong companion, and Tom would do anything for him. After going to the vet, Tom decided to get some food from Trader Joe's. All the walking was killing his back, as he had recently been bound to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, he had no other way of getting around, so he just had to manage as best as he could. If that weren’t enough, he also had to be careful not to buy too much food since the local homeless shelter was still a few blocks away.
When we first noticed him, Tom was dispiritedly grasping at a loaf of bread, but his shaky hands prevented him from keeping a firm grip on the bag. There were others who grew concerned as well, asking how he was doing or letting him jump to the front of the checkout line. Despite being complete strangers, people showed compassion in a time of desperation. We offered Tom a ride home, and the gratitude and bond that came from that was inspiring and uplifting. This interaction, among other stories on the news, is why we resolved to start this fundraiser. We’ve decided to raise money to support the 5Cities Homeless Coalition in an effort to feed those who are currently attempting to “Shelter at Home” without a home during this pandemic.
The Organization
The 5Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) serves our South County homeless and those at risk of homelessness with much needed services to find stable housing, provide shelter during the winter, and address issues of food insecurity, financial instability, and physical and mental well-being.
SLO County recently issued a “Shelter-at-Home” order on March 19, 2020 to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Many of us have the ability to shelter in our own home, shop for groceries when needed, and prepare food in our own kitchens. But what about those who do not have a home? What do our unhoused neighbors do during a time like this?
The People We Help
Our unsheltered neighbors have been fined and told to move along to their non-existent homes during this pandemic [1], and the limited homeless services in this county has been put under severe strain these past few weeks as more and more people look for assistance during these trying times. The costs to feed these people are coming out-of-pocket, and the costs keep on growing.
5CHC implemented a program in response to the Shelter-at-Home order to help protect our clients who are most at risk during this pandemic. They secured a number of campsites in Oceano for those living in their vehicles or RVs and provided motel rooms for several elderly clients who are unable to stay in their cars at the campground.
The Program
5CHC has teamed up with local restaurants to provide low-cost meals to their clients who are currently "sheltering-at-home" in these campsites and area motels. Restaurants are losing most of their business without customers coming to visit their venues. The problem grows two-fold for local businesses as they don’t have a wider network to lean back on to keep the business afloat.This fundraiser aims to hit two birds with one stone!
By providing meals, we are able to limit the amount of interaction that these at-risk families and individuals have to have on a daily basis. Many of them do not have proper refrigeration or cooking facilities and are not able to stock up on groceries like most of us at home. Please consider donating a meal, which will help support our local restaurants, and keep some of our most vulnerable community members safe and fed during this health crisis.
An average meal costs $8/person, so for just $24 you can provide a homeless individual with 3 dinner meals from a local restaurant.
Here is a list of restaurants that are currently supporting this program:
- Thai Elephant of Pismo Beach
- Jaffa Cafe- AG
- Rock & Roll Diner
- Branch Mill Organic Farms
- Splash Cafe SLO
- Old SLO BBQ
- Julia’s Juices
- Rosa's Italian Restaurant
- Hoagies (previously donated, on stand-by)
- Various volunteers (no cost)
- MORE COMING IN DAILY
[1] https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article241503106.html
It wasn't long ago we found ourselves among a throng of people at the local Trader Joe's, stocking up on food and supplies for a potential shelter-at-home. We were exhausted, stressed, hungry, and ready to go home by the time we reached our last stop. People rushed around us with carts piled high as shelves ran low, while others waited impatiently for grim-faced cashiers to serve endless lines. The chaotic scene was blinding. Almost out of sight, practically out of mind, there was someone that didn't quite fit in with the rest of the puzzle.
That someone was Tom. Tom had just walked to the vet's office to get a rabies shot for his pet dog, D.O.G. The $100 hurt coming out of his wallet, but D.O.G. was his lifelong companion, and Tom would do anything for him. After going to the vet, Tom decided to get some food from Trader Joe's. All the walking was killing his back, as he had recently been bound to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, he had no other way of getting around, so he just had to manage as best as he could. If that weren’t enough, he also had to be careful not to buy too much food since the local homeless shelter was still a few blocks away.
When we first noticed him, Tom was dispiritedly grasping at a loaf of bread, but his shaky hands prevented him from keeping a firm grip on the bag. There were others who grew concerned as well, asking how he was doing or letting him jump to the front of the checkout line. Despite being complete strangers, people showed compassion in a time of desperation. We offered Tom a ride home, and the gratitude and bond that came from that was inspiring and uplifting. This interaction, among other stories on the news, is why we resolved to start this fundraiser. We’ve decided to raise money to support the 5Cities Homeless Coalition in an effort to feed those who are currently attempting to “Shelter at Home” without a home during this pandemic.
The Organization
The 5Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) serves our South County homeless and those at risk of homelessness with much needed services to find stable housing, provide shelter during the winter, and address issues of food insecurity, financial instability, and physical and mental well-being.
SLO County recently issued a “Shelter-at-Home” order on March 19, 2020 to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Many of us have the ability to shelter in our own home, shop for groceries when needed, and prepare food in our own kitchens. But what about those who do not have a home? What do our unhoused neighbors do during a time like this?
The People We Help
Our unsheltered neighbors have been fined and told to move along to their non-existent homes during this pandemic [1], and the limited homeless services in this county has been put under severe strain these past few weeks as more and more people look for assistance during these trying times. The costs to feed these people are coming out-of-pocket, and the costs keep on growing.
5CHC implemented a program in response to the Shelter-at-Home order to help protect our clients who are most at risk during this pandemic. They secured a number of campsites in Oceano for those living in their vehicles or RVs and provided motel rooms for several elderly clients who are unable to stay in their cars at the campground.
The Program
5CHC has teamed up with local restaurants to provide low-cost meals to their clients who are currently "sheltering-at-home" in these campsites and area motels. Restaurants are losing most of their business without customers coming to visit their venues. The problem grows two-fold for local businesses as they don’t have a wider network to lean back on to keep the business afloat.This fundraiser aims to hit two birds with one stone!
By providing meals, we are able to limit the amount of interaction that these at-risk families and individuals have to have on a daily basis. Many of them do not have proper refrigeration or cooking facilities and are not able to stock up on groceries like most of us at home. Please consider donating a meal, which will help support our local restaurants, and keep some of our most vulnerable community members safe and fed during this health crisis.
An average meal costs $8/person, so for just $24 you can provide a homeless individual with 3 dinner meals from a local restaurant.
Here is a list of restaurants that are currently supporting this program:
- Thai Elephant of Pismo Beach
- Jaffa Cafe- AG
- Rock & Roll Diner
- Branch Mill Organic Farms
- Splash Cafe SLO
- Old SLO BBQ
- Julia’s Juices
- Rosa's Italian Restaurant
- Hoagies (previously donated, on stand-by)
- Various volunteers (no cost)
- MORE COMING IN DAILY
[1] https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article241503106.html
Fundraising team: Homeless Not Hopeless (5)
Alexander Ameri
Organizer
San Luis Obispo, CA
5Cities Homeless Coalition
Beneficiary
Jacob Winkler
Team member
Jennifer Lee
Team member
Devon McQuade
Team member
Samuel Fluhmann
Team member