Beyond Shelter relies on the contributions of private donors, corporations and foundations to help operate its programs and services. Below are suggestions of ways you can get involved and make a difference.

Your generous donation will help us continue our work of combating poverty and homelessness among families with children. We gratefully welcome all levels of donation, and every donation is fully tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Every dollar raised helps to end family homelessness.

The Adopt-A-Family Program connects sponsors with families to "adopt" by providing them with a detailed family profile and wish list. Sponsors buy presents for their specific families and deliver them wrapped to Beyond Shelter. Case Managers then deliver the presents to the families in the week before Christmas. Through both the Adopt-A-Family Program and the Holiday Toy Drive, homeless families get a chance to celebrate something in the midst of what is probably the most difficult period of their lives. Just knowing that somebody cares for them makes a huge difference in their lives.

Every year, Beyond Shelter coordinates a Holiday Toy Drive where we collect new and unwrapped toys, arrange them by gender and age-appropriateness, and distribute them unwrapped to the parents.  In this way, the presents can come from the parents and not from us. We rely entirely on donations to do this.

Homeless families who are moving from a shelter into an apartment often move in with nothing. The families have no furnishings, no beds, no household items - no belongings at all.

To help these families, please visit the Beyond Shelter gift registry at K-Mart, and purchase as many items as you would like, for a family of 4. Your K-Mart gifts can help make a difference in their lives. After filling your cart, provide the following shipment address: Beyond Shelter, 1200 Wilshire Blvd., #600, Los Angeles, CA 90017.

All gifts are delivered to Beyond Shelter (this is a tax-deductible donation) and Case Managers will deliver the gifts to the families.

Click here to visit K-Mart Gift Registry.

In 1991, a generous anonymous donor endowed the Beyond Shelter Fund at the California Community Foundation. The income generated from this Fund helps support Beyond Shelter's annual operating expenses. For more information, call Beyond Shelter at (213) 252-0772 or the California Community Foundation at (213) 413-4130.

Beyond Shelter welcomes contributions of stock, real property and other assets to support our programs. Like cash donations, you can reduce your capital gains taxes by contributing through this method. Please call Beyond Shelter at (213) 252-0772 if you would like to support its work in this way.

As you consider your estate, you can make a lasting contribution towards furthering the important work of Beyond Shelter, ending, preventing and combating family homelessness, by naming Beyond Shelter as a beneficiary in a will or bequest. Please call Beyond Shelter at (213) 252-0772 if you would like to support its work in this way.

The Beyond Shelter Family Fund was established to help homeless families pay for special needs, such as work uniforms, eye glasses, car repairs and other special items. By contributing to this fund, you can directly help families without other resources.

Shelter continually seeks donations of items to support the families we serve. Every item donated is distributed directly to the families and children or to the programs that serve them. We do not re-sell any items. While we appreciate all donations, we ask that every item donated be new or gently used in great condition. If you would like to make a donation or need additional information, please call: (213) 252-0772. All donations are tax-deductible.
Below are some suggestions of items that will greatly benefit our families.

We help homeless families move out of shelters and into permanent affordable housing as quickly as possible. Once back in housing, each family is provided individualized support to help them rebuild their lives. When families moves into their new homes, it is often a struggle to obtain furniture and basic household supplies. To further support them in their transition from homelessness to housing, we collect the following items:

Pots & Pans
Dishes
Utensils
Furniture (especially beds & cribs)
Bed Linens
Towels
Microwaves
Appliances
Detergent and Cleaning Supplies
Vacuum Cleaners
Other Household Necessities

Many of the families we serve have infants and are in critical need of the following items:

Diapers (all sizes)
Formula
Bottles
Blankets
Cribs & Crib Bedding
Strollers
Car Seats
Clothing
Baby Lotion & Wipes
Noise Makers & Soft Toys to Play With

All of the families we serve have children ages 0-18. We are continuously in need of items for the kids. Suggestions include:

Clothing (including school uniforms)
Books (for all ages)
Toys (stuffed animals, multicultural dolls, board games, educational toys)
Art supplies
Sports equipment (i.e. basketballs, soccer balls, footballs)
Backpacks & School Supplies
Music & DVDs
Video Games

Beyond Shelter's Employment Services Department helps primarily single mothers enrolled in Beyond Shelter's programs to find and maintain employment. Many of these jobseekers are in critical need of professional attire for job interviews and employment. All professional clothing should be  clean and in good-to-excellent condition. New clothing is preferred.

To help run our programs, Beyond Shelter is in need of the following office supplies and computer equipment:

Rolls of Stamps
Reams of Paper
Computers in Good Working Condition
Printers
Folders & Binders
Pens & Pencils
Flash Drives
Scanner
Computer Software

There are many ways you can volunteer at Beyond Shelter, from tutoring children at our service-enriched apartment complexes to helping in our main offices. Please call (213) 252-0772 for more information.