It's no secret that homelessness is a growing concern here in the East Bay, and it's particularly challenging in the time of the pandemic. While we can't personally provide shelter to every individual, there are still ways we can help.
Red Oak agents, staff, clients and friends have contributed over $1.3M to the Red Oak Opportunity Fund (ROOF) since 1985, a nonprofit established to provide resources to charitable East Bay organizations who may not receive funding from larger sources. When it came time to consider recipients for the most recent ROOF award, one organization stood out among the others: LavaMaex.
LavaMaex provides "radical hospitality" to the unhoused. In addition to delivering basic hygiene services to individuals, they have found that how these services are provided has the greatest impact. Instead of just passing off a kit, they take the time to help restore a sense of dignity and health to people who are often made to feel dehumanized. And they are changing the way the world views this growing population.
LavaMaex has expanded its services to include "pop-up care villages" that provide mobile hygiene showers, haircuts, dental check-ups, clean clothing, food and more, and has launched over 170 programs across the globe, attending to over 31,000 guests.
ROOF donated $25,000 in February to a LavaMaex pop-up care village, which will be staffed with Red Oak volunteers later this year. While the organization's mobile hygiene showers are on hold due to the risk of spreading coronavirus, they have pivoted to provide affordable, easy-to-assemble DIY handwashing stations, hoping to minimize the spread of COVID-19 to local marginalized communities. This month, ROOF donated an additional $10,000 to help swiftly facilitate setting up stations in Oakland and Berkeley.
CLICK HERE to donate to ROOF, which will give 100% of these proceeds directly to LavaMaex and immediately fund additional handwashing stations throughout our local homeless communities. Help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your network.
