Recently on our podcast we interviewed Devona Brazier, the Director of Outreach at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church (WCPC). We discussed food and housing needs of our neighbors and ways we can help. Housing continues to be very expensive in the Bay Area and the number of unhoused persons who are working is growing. WCPC, through their Care Cottage, partners with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties as well as members of the church and surrounding community to provide food and clothing. WCPC is expecting the need from the Care Cottage to be increased by 25% this year. As we enter Thanksgiving, and the giving season, you may be asking what are the best ways to give back to those around you?

We are asking our sphere, which includes you if you are reading this, to consider helping in a couple of different ways. 1) We are collecting food and clothing donations to be distributed to individuals through WCPC Care Cottage. And 2) we are collecting warm/clean/wearable coats for One Warm Coat to be distributed at various East Bay locations. If you would like to donate to either of these causes, contact Sherry or Adam to arrange for a pickup or to find out where you can drop off your donations.

Lastly, if you have not voted yet, we encourage you to review proposition 33 regarding rent control carefully. We think it is poorly written and, while it has good intentions, will ultimately make our current housing shortage worse causing increases in housing costs. It will likely cause an increase in needs for organizations like the WCPC Care Cottage as well.