East Oakland Collective have had to suspend our regular food and supply distribution programs due to shelter in place and physical distancing, but that has not stopped our efforts to support our unhoused brothers and sisters across Oakland. In fact, our efforts have intensified and expanded in light of COVID-19-- we also serve other vulnerable populations such as seniors, disabled and those with compromised immune systems. We have found alternative and new ways to resource food. Community members from across the Bay Area have been gracious with their supply donations. We have enacted a volunteer delivery system taking great health and safety precautions for all.
EOC is working closely with Alameda County Healthcare for the Homeless as a homeless street/camp outreach service provider.
Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay supports undocumented families as well as extremely vulnerable, documented families. Many of these people do not have any more food to feed their children right now, don't have reliable transportation, can't afford rent, aren't eligible for unemployment, are uninsured (and out of insulin and other life sustaining medications), won't get money from the federal stimulus package due to their immigration status, etc. Most of the families they serve have one older adult caring for many children (often upwards of 10 family members) due to many adults in the family being incarcerated, in ICE immigration centers, etc.
1) DONATIONS: If you have extra money and want to share it with some of the most vulnerable folks in our communities, you can donate it on our website.If you want your financial donation to go to our agency's overall Coronavirus response--which will be used to support clients across departments--you should use this form. (This includes documented and undocumented families with children, seniors, holocaust survivors, developmentally disabled adults without families that can support them right now, etc.)If you particularly want to direct your donation to the parenting and youth- mostly undocumented families with many children- department, you should use our regular donation form and select "Immigrant & Low-Income Families" from the dropdown menu.
2) VOLUNTEERING: If you have TIME, a car, live in the Bay Area and feel safe doing so, you can volunteer to go to the food bank or grocery stores and pick up food and drop off on families door steps. You do not need to have money to spend in order to do this- the agency will give you money for the food, etc. Please do not do this if you are in a high risk group or live with someone who is! If you are interested in volunteering, you should fill out this form.
Food Not Bombs volunteers don masks to hand out food to curbside communities during this crisis. Food services are more important than ever right now, and we are taking a number of steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while we feed the people. All food we serve will be boxed up and volunteers will wear gloves and masks.
We need new volunteers right now more than ever! To get involved go to our website. We also have a real need for gloves, hand sanitizers, & disinfectant wipes. You can donate money as well. We appreciate your support!