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urbancompassionthreads

@urbancompassionthreads

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sometimes, when everything in the world feels so out of control and dismal, a sight like this makes our day so much better.

yesterday, while 30 of us cleaned up 8,000 pounds of trash, a man living in the encampment was paddling around the estuary with his big dog, little man, fishing while we worked. we kept catching glimpses of the two of them together, and their bond was just so sweet. at the end, they sat in their tiny canoe eating burritos together. 🥹

there’s a lot that’s hard about this work. the dumping keeps coming, and people are trying to survive in conditions that nobody should have to live in. we see so much that leaves us frustrated, sad, and wondering how things have gotten to this point. but we also get to know the people living here, meet their pets, share a meal, and witness little moments like this that stay with us long after a cleanup ends.

we’re grateful we got to spend part of our saturday here, cleaning up alongside people who care and making the area a little better for those who call it home.

and a huge thank you to the oakland high school and madison park high school students who joined us. seeing you spend your saturday showing up for your community gives us a bright light in the middle of everything. you’re already making a difference, and we’re excited to see what you’ll go on to do.

8,000 pounds removed, burritos shared, and a man and his little man reminding us how much love there still is around us. ❤️ by @urbancompassionthreads

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2 hours ago

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6 days ago

even during a massive heatwave, nothing will stop this community from doing the right thing. taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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8 days ago

628 guests served, 3505 new clothing items and essentials, 2456 pounds of clothing and essentials. we’re a force within downtown oakland and we’re supporting the world! taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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9 days ago

we need your help keeping this community alive, and we need more people to know what it actually does.

honestly, we don’t do our impact enough justice when we talk about it. this video shows one cleanup on laney lot where 67 volunteers cleared 18,000 pounds of illegally dumped trash in three hours on a hot day. that took a lot of people busting their asses. but it’s also one piece of what happens at ucp.

between cleanups, weekly distributions, Compassion Threads, and the everyday work of supporting people in our community, we’re on the ground multiple times a day. we’re not an organization that holds one or two events and calls it a year. our volunteers keep showing up, often every other day, because the need is that constant.

and in doing this work, they’ve built a community of their own. people have found connection and purpose here while helping neighbors who are bearing the brunt of a widening wealth gap. that matters just as much as the before and after you see in this video.

there is endless capital in the Bay Area. it shouldn’t be this hard to sustain a community doing this much work, but it is. we need funding to keep our programs going and to support the people who make them possible.

please share this video, spread the word about ucp, and connect us with people who can help. we’re going to keep showing up. help us make sure we can. by @urbancompassionthreads

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15 days ago

this bush was debbie’s home for over a year 😢

on september 19, six of us came together at very short notice to clean the area in west oakland where she had been living. debbie didn’t even sleep in a tent because she was afraid her belongings would be stolen. she endured grueling conditions in this tiny space while people consistently dumped trash around her.

debbie is such a sweet soul. she is incredibly intelligent, kind, and deserving, but life has not always gone her way. for the past year, we’ve been there to help clean her space and provide clothing, hygiene supplies, and whatever support we could.

then, on friday, we got to help move debbie into her new home. she was absolutely elated.

this is why we do what we do bc we don’t clean just to clean. we clean because illegal dumping directly affects people like debbie, who are already experiencing some of the hardest conditions imaginable. we clean to support people on the ground, restore dignity, and help create the foundation for something better.

debbie finally has a safe place to call home and a real chance at a new beginning. we could not be happier for her. #urbancompassionproject #oakland #transformation #bayarea # taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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20 days ago

debbie was homeless until today!

UCP has been working alongside debbie for over a year. during that time, she has been displaced by the city of oakland again and again, forced to move from one location to another without being given a permanent place to go.

today, that finally changed. just an hour ago, we dropped debbie off at her new housing.

this is why we do what we do. UCP does not just clean up trash. we build relationships, show up consistently, and support the people who are most affected by homelessness, illegal dumping, and the failures of our existing systems.

we could not be happier for debbie. everyone deserves the safety and dignity of a place to call home. by @urbancompassionthreads

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23 days ago

That’s why we created a welcoming store and supportive experience for the Bay Area community. Everyone deserves a space where they can come exactly as they are without judgment and feel seen, respected, and supported.

By offering genuine care and helpful resources, we hope to strengthen our community and make it easier for people to get the support they may need.

Good talking with you @ent_3boy5lim3ball you need anything we gotcha. 🫡 @urbancompassionthreads @thecityeats taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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25 days ago

what does it look like to transform downtown oakland?

for ucp, it looks like turning an empty storefront into a free clothing and community space where nothing is ever for sale.

through compassion threads, 264 people have shopped for 1,399 items this year, keeping 1,047 pounds of clothing and other essentials in our community and out of the waste stream.

the need is real. 70% of our guests have experienced food insecurity, 63% have experienced housing insecurity, and 29% are currently living in a hotel, shelter, or on the street. 59% receive snap benefits.

of the guests who shared their income, 87% live on less than $50,000 a year, and 38% live on less than $15,000.

compassion threads is helping people access quality clothing with dignity while activating a downtown storefront, reducing waste, and bringing more life back to broadway.

this is ucp’s vision for downtown oakland: empty spaces transformed into places that directly serve the community. spaces filled with people, connection, compassion, and purpose.

and we’re just getting started. taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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a month ago

What an incredible day at @urbancompassionthreads! More than 120 individuals and families came through our doors and were welcomed with dignity, kindness, and the opportunity to choose clothing they truly need.

Providing free clothing is about so much more than meeting a basic need. For low-income families and individuals, it can ease financial stress, restore confidence, support job interviews and school days, and remind each person that they are seen and valued.

Heartfelt thanks to every volunteer and community partner who made this day possible. Your generosity helped make someone’s day brighter and made a meaningful difference in their life.

See you next Wednesday! 5pm - 7pm 📍 1420 Broadway Oakland Ca - please register @urbancompassionthreads or @thecityeats BIO taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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a month ago

We’ve supported hundreds of people with free clothings, saved hundreds of pounds of excess inventory from going into the landfill, and activated downtown oakland all at the same time. Support us support community! taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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a month ago

an empty storefront in downtown oakland is now helping hundreds of people access quality clothing completely free through compassion threads.

in just three shop days, 161 people have shopped with us and taken home 837 pieces of clothing, representing 576 pounds of clothing kept in our community and out of the landfill.

there has already been significant impact. 73% of our shoppers experienced food insecurity in the past year, and 61% experienced housing insecurity. among guests who disclosed their income, 46% reported a household income below $15,000 and 86% reported a household income below $50,000.

clothing is expensive, especially in the bay area, and people should not have to choose between buying something to wear and paying for food, housing, or other basic needs. at compassion threads, nothing is ever for sale. shoppers can choose clothing that fits their needs, personalities, and styles without paying anything.

this project is also reducing waste and bringing people into downtown oakland by turning a previously empty space into something that directly serves the community.

thank you to jeremy castro, oakland don’t play, and ether for donating clothing and helping make this possible.

free clothing. less waste. more community. taken in Oakland, California by @urbancompassionthreads

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a month ago