The mission of Handle With Care (HWC) is to help people who are experiencing homelessness with their daily needs while also acting as a bridge to other services and opportunities to improve their lives.
In a perfect world, there wouldn’t be a single person living on our streets. Until that day comes, there are people that need our help.
To fulfill our mission, our nonprofit's amazing volunteers pack and distribute care packages with supplies for people experiencing homelessness. The care packages include food and water, personal care items, and resource guides to other social services.
Handle With Care also advocates for public policies that support the unhoused community and promote affordable housing.
2
Cities served
Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR
3000 +
Care packages distributed
875
Volunteers
(includes repeat volunteers)
The care package
What's in a care package?
Our care packages provide emergency supplies to people in need. Our volunteers can engage in conversation, let the recipient know we care, and provide details about social services in the area.
A typical care package includes:
Bottled water
Sandwiches and other protein
Comfortable socks
Deodorant
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Sunscreen, bandaids, and hand sanitizer
Trash bags, duct tape, and much more
Every care package item is either donated or purchased by our nonprofit. For some people who are experiencing homelessness, this is the only food they will have that day and the only new pair of socks they will have for weeks or months.
Handle With Care welcomes your donation of funds or care package items.
Our story
Five friends saw a need in the community
In January 2018, five friends gathered over a meal and discussed the issues of homelessness in our community and beyond. We decided to be the change instead of just talking about the problem. We gathered funds, organized friends, and hit the streets in February 2018 for our first distribution of care packages.
Since then, HWC has engaged hundreds of volunteers, distributed thousands of care packages, organized fundraisers, received city recognitions, and connected with hundreds of amazing people living on the streets. Get involved - we need you.
(The HWC founders are Matt Fritch, Tyler Gutowsky, Kellan Martz, Ted Morales, & John Santos)
Kellan Martz President
Tyler Gutowsky Vice President
Lisa Brubaker Board Member
Marc Carter Board Member
Mark Gamarra Board Member
Jerrick Holloway Board Member
Nita Voravudhi Board Member
Tom MacKendrick Board Member
Matt Fritch, John Santos, Ted Morales, Ross von Metzke Emeritus Board Members
Handle With Care is forever grateful to Kimberly Eaton, a loyal and longtime volunteer who passed away in August 2022. Your spirit, humor, kindness, and honesty will live on through our organization and the lives we touch. Thank you for being you.
Donations made in Kimberly’s honor will benefit the unhoused communities in West Hollywood & surrounding neighborhoods with a focus on queer communities of color. Please include Kimberly’s name (& a message) on the donation form so that we can track & share donor names with her family.
Donate
Thank you for your support.
Volunteer
Help people who are experiencing homelessness.
Your information
Please let us know what city you'd like to volunteer in. We'll reach out to you before our next event.
Our partners
A generous thank you to the organizations who have partnered with us to support our mission.
We welcome additional community partners to build relationships and further expand our impact with the unhoused communities we serve. Please send us an email for more information.
