Stories - Share the Spirit

Please take a moment to help these East Bay organizations this holiday season. Their dedication and hard work have directly helped those in need in the Bay Area community. Read more about them and how you can help:

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Previous Stories

A look at those we’ve helped throughout the years

Since 1989, Share the Spirit has helped those in need in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and the rest of the Bay Area by publishing their “Stories” — an in-depth account of their hopes and struggles — in the East Bay Times during the holiday season. Readers responded generously with donations that helped these people and the organization involved. Here are some of those Stories from past campaigns:

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2021

No landlord would offer this veteran housing – Swords to Plowshares stepped in

Donations will help Swords to Plowshares’ San Francisco and Oakland Service Centers provide emergency housing, food, counseling, housing placement, rental assistance, employment and training services, and legal assistance to Bay Area veterans.

2023

Oakley woman gets around fine without sight, with a little help from Lions Center

Donations will help Lions Center for the Visually Impaired support its three lines of assistance to those 55 and older who are blind, are experiencing vision loss or who are at risk of losing their sight.

2021

Open Heart Kitchen provides meals, and friendly company

Donations will help fund Open Heart Kitchen’s Hot Meal Program that provides meals to homeless, senior citizens on a fixed income, and mostly the working poor.

2023

Opportunity Junction helps job seekers find careers

Donations will help Opportunity Junction support 450 job seekers and low-income alumni with food baskets and gift cards to purchase food and necessities during the holidays, and help with transportation costs, rental and phone assistance.

2022

Pittsburg mom able to dream with help of Immigration Institute of the Bay Area

Donations will help Immigration Institute of the Bay Area provide legal consultations and legal representation to the low-income immigrant communities in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

2021

Rainbow Community Center is a lifeline for East Bay LGBTQI+ youth seeking acceptance for who they are

Donations will help Rainbow Community Center’s Homeless Transitional Youth Program (HTYP) provide assistance to LGBTQ+ youth & young adults from age 12 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness

2023

Richmond nonprofit gives a boost to immigrant families looking to better their children’s lives

Donations will help Brighter Beginnings’ fund its “adopt a family” program and provide vouchers to 300 families for food, furniture, clothing, educational toys and many other unmet needs to 300 families in Oakland County and in West Contra Costa and East Contra ...

2023

Rising hunger spurs Martinez nonprofit to feed hundreds more people every day than before the pandemic

Donations will help Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa serve 2,000 warm holiday meals at its dining rooms and provide $10 grocery gift cards for 350 clients who cannot afford food.