What

Westside CARES is neighbors helping neighbors. It affirms human dignity by ameliorating the conditions of poverty and preventing homelessness through food, clothing, laundry, healthcare, ID cards, mail, utilities, or rent, and creates a community that values all of its members. Each year the nearly 22,000 neighbors we serve can rely on a safe, welcoming space to access the services they need to fill the gaps.

Why

In Westside CARES’ core service area poverty rates range upwards to nearly 20-30%. These families are barely scraping by, even in the best of circumstances. Westside CARES never missed a day of service during the COVID-19 crisis and amplified its most essential programs to keep families housed, healthy and hopeful. We are small enough to adapt to emerging needs, but big enough to provide meaningful help.

Needs

Non-perishable food for our six food pantries; gloves; new men’s/women’s underwear for our clothing closet; community clean-up volunteers and weekly office volunteers.

Did You Know

90% of Westside CARES neighbors have a steady job and income that does not keep up with the basic cost of living in the region – even in economic prosperity.

“Because of you, I'm still alive. Because of you, I'm entering a sober house. Because of you, there's some kind of future. Because of you, I can reasonably foresee moving out of the sober house and into my own apartment sometime.” — Westside CARES Neighbor