Throughout the year CFF Volunteers coordinate ongoing donation drives in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement at CSULB, where students can complete a 20-hour internship with CFF and learn how to coordinate these much-needed donation drives. At the end of their 20-hour internship, interns receive a certificate of appreciation and a thank you letter welcoming them into the California Families in Focus tribe.

 

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” 

– Mother Teresa, nun and missionary in Calcutta

Food

Year-round we accept pre-packaged food for low-income families and homeless camps. Nonperishable items that are easy to store and donate include: canned chicken and tuna (pull top opening), beans of all types, water bottles, juice packs, cereal, cereal bars, granola bars, canned soup (pull top opening), fruit snacks packs, nutrition shakes, apple sauce, pudding, cooking oil, salt, pepper, spices, tea bags, sugar packs, creamer packs, instant coffee, oatmeal, pastas, fruit cups, chips, and cookies. 

 

When available, CFF can arrange to collect and deliver leftover prepared foods to low-income households on the same day. If you are hosting an event and suspect you might have leftover prepared foods that can provide dinner for a family, please contact us to make those arrangements. Common surplus items include salads, sandwiches, pasta, fruit, vegetables, bread, juice, pastries, tortillas, pizza and other perishable food items.

Clothing

We collect and distribute new or gently used clothing (no stains or rips preferred). Male and Female, everyday clothing sizes S, M, L, XL, 2X.

 

To prepare our teens to interview for internships and jobs, we want them to feel confident with a neat and professional appearance. For this we need brand new professional male and female suits, shoes, dress shirts, socks, ties, bow ties and belts. We happily recognize the clothing donations with a letter and certificate of appreciation to the business. 

Seasonal Needs

Seasonally we adapt our clothing donations asking for beanies, scarves, gloves, sweaters/coats and medium foldable blankets during the winter. Since COVID-19 social distancing restrictions have been put in place, we assemble and distribute personal hygiene kits that include a variety of toiletry items. Donations are welcome. We need: shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, liquid soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, deodorant, lotion, razors, shaving cream, wash cloths, bath towels, socks, muscle shirts, boxers, female undergarments and feminine products, etc.