On August 17, TAP Charity team in the Bay Area assembled hygiene kits for homeless people and their lovable pets – hosted by Home First. Home First has been on the forefront for 40+ years providing help to homeless and finding shelters for them. This was a small step towards their mission and a new initiative by TAP Charity to give back to the community we live in.
The people in need of shelter have a healthy skepticism for outsiders who approach them with good intentions. Home First field workers establish trust with them by providing support to them where they are. Sharing kits with them for their daily hygiene and their pet’s needs is one way where they initiate the conversation and allow the unhoused person to open up. As the field volunteer builds the trust, they can then provide better options to the unhoused to bring them to the community kitchens, temporary housing and then permanent housing.
TAP team assembled pet kits that included a chew toy, water bowl, leash, collar, snacks. We assembled 50 kits to be sent out to the field locations where the unhoused are camped.
The kits for homeless included warm socks, shampoo, toothbrush/paste, razor, lotion, deodorant. All the basic needs for their hygiene.
We assembled 100 such kits – a drop in the bucket for Home First. They annually deliver 65k such kits just in the Bay Area!
The event was well organized by Home First, graciously hosted by Aparna Motiwala . More importantly we all got to know and learn the phenomenal and relentless work done by Home First as shared by their COO at this event.
The need for help is significant and Home First is continually expanding their scope. Besides helping them find housing and other needs, Home First has embarked on a program ‘New Start’ to put the individuals through rigorous 6 month training to learn professional skills. The dignity of work and stable income is a sure way to bring the homeless population into housed and end the homelessness. They will be training 12 individuals every 6 months.
Every support we can provide goes a long way to reduce homelessness.
Thank you!