Find Your Way To Help

“Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love, or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.” – Steve Goodier

-S

There are many ways to give.

Right now, the need is urgent.

Across our community, funding cuts have created real gaps in care. But this isn’t about budgets or balance sheets. It’s about people. When resources fall short, it’s individuals experiencing homelessness who go without food, without essentials, without consistent support, and without someone in their corner.

If you’re able, the most powerful way to help today is through an unrestricted financial gift. These donations give us the flexibility to respond in real time, meet immediate needs on the street, and walk alongside individuals as they work toward stability. It allows us to act, not wait.

That said, impact doesn’t come from one path alone. There are many ways to be a part of this mission, and every one of them matters.

You can provide meals, snacks, and drinks that go directly into outreach. You can donate clothing, hygiene items, and everyday essentials that restore dignity and meet basic needs. You can contribute logistical supplies like food containers and outreach materials that help us operate effectively. Many of these items can be given directly or purchased through our Amazon wish list for convenience.

You can give your time by volunteering in outreach efforts or behind the scenes. You can step into leadership through board or committee service. And if you have a platform, you can use your voice to raise awareness, advocate for change, and help others find their way to this work.

There is no single way to make a difference. What matters is that you choose one.

Explore the options below and find your way to help, and as always, thank you for your kindness.

Financial support is what keeps the mission moving.

Every outreach effort, every meal distributed, every hygiene kit packed, every emergency need met, and every step toward long-term stability begins with people who choose to give.

Right now, unrestricted donations are especially important. As funding sources continue to shrink and community needs continue to rise, flexible financial support allows us to respond quickly, meet urgent needs in real time, and direct resources where they are needed most. It gives us the ability to act immediately instead of waiting for restricted funding approvals or designated programs.

Your gift helps fuel street outreach, essential supplies, meals, transportation assistance, emergency support, operational needs, and the continued growth of Project 1×1 as we work to provide sustained and holistic support for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Whether it’s a one-time contribution or a recurring monthly gift, every donation becomes part of something bigger: restoring dignity, building relationships, and helping change lives one person at a time.

If you believe kindness can make a difference, this is one of the most powerful ways to put that belief into action.

Food is often one of the first ways we build trust and connection during outreach.

A meal, a snack, or even a cold bottle of water may seem small, but to someone facing homelessness or hardship, it can provide comfort, dignity, encouragement, and relief in a difficult moment. These items also help open the door to conversation, relationship-building, and continued support.

We regularly distribute shelf-stable meals, easy-to-carry snacks, bottled water, sports drinks, coffee, and other outreach-friendly food items directly to individuals in need throughout the community. Because outreach happens year-round, these needs are ongoing.

Whether you want to donate a few items, organize a food drive, prepare care bags, or make a larger contribution, every donation helps us reach more people with compassion and practical support.

Examples of commonly needed items include:

  • Bottled water and electrolyte drinks
  • Granola bars and protein bars
  • Peanut butter crackers and trail mix
  • Tuna, chicken, or shelf-stable meal kits
  • Fruit cups and applesauce pouches
  • Jerky and other protein snacks
  • Instant coffee, hot chocolate, and drink packets
  • Easy-open, ready-to-eat foods

You can donate items directly or purchase needed supplies through our Amazon wishlist for convenient delivery.

Every meal shared is more than food… it’s a reminder that someone cares.

Clothing and basic essentials are some of the most immediate and practical ways to support someone experiencing homelessness.

Weather, safety, hygiene, and dignity all depend on having the right essentials available. A warm jacket in winter, clean socks, a dry blanket, or basic hygiene items can make a real difference in someone’s day, and in many cases, their health and well-being.

Through outreach, we distribute new and gently used clothing along with essential items that help people stay protected, clean, and prepared for daily life on the street or in transition. These items are always in demand, especially during extreme weather seasons.

Commonly needed items include:

  • Socks (new, high priority)
  • Underwear (new only)
  • T-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and weather-appropriate clothing
  • Coats, gloves, hats, scarves, and thermal layers
  • Blankets and sleeping bags
  • Tents and tarps
  • Backpacks and duffel bags
  • Ponchos and rain gear
  • Shoes and boots (gently used or new)
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Basic hygiene kits (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wipes)

Items can be donated directly or purchased through our Amazon wishlist, where we keep updated needs based on current outreach demands.

These essentials do more than meet physical needs. They help restore dignity, provide comfort in difficult environments, and remind people that they are not forgotten.

If you want to help but aren’t sure what to buy, our Amazon Wishlist is the simplest way to make an immediate impact.

Every item on the list is selected based on real-time outreach needs. As those needs change, the list is updated to reflect what will be most useful in the field right now. This ensures that every purchase directly supports individuals experiencing homelessness in our community without guesswork or waste.

The wishlist is especially helpful for supporters who live outside the area, prefer direct delivery, or want a quick and convenient way to contribute. Items ship directly to TY4YK and are immediately sorted into outreach kits, care packages, and distribution supplies.

Typical wishlist items include food, hygiene products, clothing essentials, weather protection gear, and outreach logistics supplies like containers, storage materials, and packing tools.

It’s a straightforward way to turn intention into action. You choose an item, place an order, and it becomes part of someone’s next moment of support on the street.

Volunteers are the hands and presence behind every outreach effort.

From preparing supplies to stepping into direct street outreach, volunteers help make it possible to consistently show up for people experiencing homelessness with dignity, consistency, and care. This work is not one-size-fits-all, and there are many ways to get involved depending on your availability, comfort level, and skills.

Direct outreach volunteers join us in the field, helping distribute food, clothing, hygiene kits, and essential supplies while engaging with individuals one-on-one. These moments are often simple, but meaningful, centered on respect, conversation, and meeting immediate needs.

Behind-the-scenes volunteers support the mission in equally important ways. This includes packing outreach kits, organizing donations, preparing materials for events, assisting with logistics, and helping keep operations running smoothly.

We also welcome volunteers with creative and professional skills. This includes photography and video, social media support, design work, administrative assistance, event setup, and other skill-based contributions that help expand and strengthen the mission.

Whether you can give a few hours occasionally or want to be consistently involved, your time directly supports outreach efforts and helps us reach more people with compassion and consistency.

If you are looking for a place to serve where small actions add up to real impact, volunteering with TY4YK is one of the most direct ways to do it.

Kindness grows when it is shared.

The #ShowYourKindness Challenge is a simple invitation to make kindness visible in everyday life. It is not about perfection or grand gestures. It is about choosing to act with compassion and allowing that moment to inspire someone else to do the same.

This can be as simple as buying someone a meal, leaving a note of encouragement, helping a stranger, checking in on someone who is struggling, or supporting your community in a small but intentional way. Then, if you choose, share it using #ShowYourKindness to help spread the message further.

Social media often amplifies negativity. This challenge is about using it differently… to highlight what is good, human, and hopeful. Every post becomes part of a larger ripple effect that encourages others to step into kindness in their own way.

You do not need a large following or a platform to participate. You only need a willingness to act and a moment worth sharing.

Together, these small acts begin to shift the tone of what people see, what they expect, and what they choose to do next.

For those called to take a deeper role in shaping the mission, TY4YK offers opportunities to serve in leadership and governance.

Board members, advisors, and committee participants help guide the long-term direction of the organization, strengthen accountability, and ensure that our programs remain effective, ethical, and aligned with our mission. This level of involvement goes beyond participation in outreach and focuses on stewardship, strategy, and sustainability.

We welcome individuals with experience in areas such as nonprofit leadership, business, finance, law, healthcare, social services, community development, marketing, and lived experience relevant to homelessness and poverty. Diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to serve well.

Leadership involvement may include board service, advisory roles, strategic planning, program development, fundraising guidance, or serving on focused committees that support specific areas of TY4YK and Project 1×1.

This is not symbolic participation. It is active engagement in building and sustaining a mission designed to create long-term, holistic impact for individuals experiencing homelessness.

If you are interested in contributing your expertise, perspective, or leadership, we invite you to explore how your experience can help shape what comes next.

Lasting impact happens when communities work together.

Partnerships and sponsorships give businesses, churches, schools, and community organizations a direct way to support TY4YK and Project 1×1 while making a measurable difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

These collaborations can take many forms. Some partners host donation drives or provide in-kind supplies. Others sponsor outreach efforts, support specific initiatives like hygiene kits or seasonal relief, or engage their employees or members in volunteer opportunities. Local businesses may also choose to support through financial sponsorships, matching gifts, or ongoing program partnerships.

Every partnership is built to be meaningful and practical. We work alongside each partner to identify the most effective way their support can be used, ensuring it translates directly into real-world impact on the street and in transitional support efforts.

Beyond resources, partnerships also help expand awareness. When organizations choose to stand with this mission publicly, it helps shift community understanding and encourages broader participation in compassionate action.

If you are representing a business, faith community, school, or organization and are looking for a way to make a tangible difference, we would love to explore what partnership could look like together.

Not everyone can be on the street, but everyone has a voice.

Advocacy is one of the most powerful ways to support this mission because it helps shape how people see homelessness, kindness, and community responsibility. When awareness grows, so does compassion, and when compassion grows, so does action.

You can help by sharing TY4YK and Project 1×1 with your network, posting about the work, or simply starting conversations that challenge assumptions and bring more understanding to the realities of homelessness. Even small moments of awareness can change how someone thinks, and sometimes how they choose to act.

If you have a social media platform, blog, podcast, or community presence, your voice can extend this message even further. You can invite others to get involved, highlight the #ShowYourKindness Challenge, or help people find practical ways to support local outreach efforts.

We also welcome opportunities to speak at schools, churches, businesses, and community events. These conversations help bridge the gap between awareness and action, and often become the first step for others who want to get involved.

Advocacy does not require expertise. It simply requires willingness to speak up for dignity, kindness, and the belief that people deserve support, not indifference.

Support does not always look like an action you can measure.

Sometimes it looks like prayer, encouragement, or simply staying aware and connected to the work over time. These quieter forms of support matter more than they often get credit for, especially in a mission that deals with difficult and deeply human realities every day.

If faith is part of your life, we welcome your prayers for the individuals we serve, for the volunteers in the field, and for the continued growth and stability of this mission. That support is meaningful and appreciated.

Encouragement also plays a powerful role. A message of support, a note of appreciation, or simply sharing kind words about the work helps sustain the people who are showing up consistently in challenging environments.

Staying connected is another way to support the mission long-term. You can follow TY4YK on social media, subscribe to updates, or stay informed about outreach needs, events, and opportunities to get involved. Awareness over time often becomes participation when the right moment comes.

Not every form of support is visible, but all of it contributes to the strength of the work being done.

“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
– Mother Teresa

Early supporters
TY4YK is honored to have received early funding and support from respected names in education and business, including: