Stories - Share the Spirit

These East Bay organizations were featured in the latest holiday season drive. Read more about them and learn how you can still help.

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
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2023

Stepping out of the darkness and into the light

Donations will help the Bay Area Rescue Mission provide 20,000 meals for those in need of food during a six-week period. Meals are served 365 days per year to residents in the nonprofit’s shelters and to unhoused people in the ...

2023

Berkeley organization provides community for people with disabilities

Donations will help BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation provide instructor payments for 150 in-person and online fitness classes, providing 2,000 hours of fitness for individuals with physical and vision disabilities.

2023

After years in the foster system, a young woman gets a room of her own

Donations will help First Place for Youth provide housing, counseling, education and employment support to 140 young adults ages 18-25 in Contra Costa and Alameda counties who are transitioning from the foster care system.

2023

La Familia offers ‘peace of mind’ for thousands of East Bay residents

For weeks after his brother’s suicide in January, Jamaal Morgain barely ate. He refused to – he wanted to waste away, to spiral back into the dark pit of depression ...

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.

2023

A unique roommate finder helps Bay Area seniors stay in homes

Donations will help Home Match stabilize the housing situation for 30 or more individuals in Contra Costa and Alameda counties by establishing 15 new compatible matches.

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.

2023

Tri-Valley nonprofit helps pets change lives

Donations will help Paws In Need treat companion animals belonging to individuals experiencing financial hardship, keeping families and their beloved pets together. These funds will allow the organization to reach over 150 animals, and prevent overpopulation in overcrowded animal shelters.