We are a small group of good samaritans in Los Angeles who care a lot about society's underprivileged citizens. We also think that the term "homeless" carries a negative connotation, so we prefer the more compassionate term: "unsheltered."
Our unsheltered neighbors are a very misunderstood lot, and we strive to bring new clarity to the way people perceive this "invisible" sector of society. Our goal is to dispel the myths about people who have no home and to take away some of the stigma and shame they face on a daily basis. They're not "them," they are us.
PLEASE SEE OUR SECTION "FACTS vs. MYTHS ABOUT THE HOMELESS."
WHAT IS HELPERBEE?
What We Do
We collect items that are necessary for survival outdoors, on the streets, or in vehicles, and we deliver them straight into the hands of the people who need them the most. We provide a safe place for you, our generous donor, to drop off (or mail) your no-longer-needed goods. We clean them up and drive them to shelters, camps, and "safe-parking" areas around Los Angeles.
We work with other organizations and outreach groups, as well as independently, to bring your donated items to locations that serve the truly needy. The best part is that we provide photo/video proof that your items end up where they're supposed to. It's common knowledge that items donated to thrift stores do not end up going to the homeless, since unsheltered persons do not have money to shop. It's more likely that your items will be purchased by someone to sell on shopping sites like Poshmark.
FOR A PRINTABLE LIST OF THE MOST IN-DEMAND ITEMS, PLEASE VISIT OUR "NEEDED ITEMS" PAGE HERE.
While we are a new startup testing the waters on our home turf of Los Angeles, our ultimate goal is to open locations in other cities. We will enable this expansion by networking with other homeless organizations, as well as like-minded and compassionate individuals. Our expansion will be determined by our success in Los Angeles and other major cities in California. Our hope is to change the way our citizens perceive the homeless, recognizing them as human beings in need of our help.
Mission Statement
OUR FOUNDER
Gina Ortiz is a 22-year small-business owner and lifelong advocate for the homeless. She began her career in Los Angeles in 2000 as a makeup artist and photographer for the transgender community. Being no stranger to society's most marginalized communities, she set out to become more proactive for our unsheltered neighbors when she became homeless herself. She understands how easy it is to become homeless as a result of a tragedy, such as losing a business location. Losing a property by no fault of their own can be catastrophic for small business owners, and can take many months to recover from.
Such was the case for Ms. Ortiz, so she made the choice to dedicate her energy to helping others when she got back on her own feet. Ms. Ortiz understands firsthand how difficult it is to dig one's self out of a deep hole of despair, and how important it is to remain hopeful. We may not be able to provide homes and jobs for everyone who needs them, but we can try to make their situation more manageable by providing them with goods that are necessary for survival. Ms. Ortiz has chosen to utilize her "Covid-vacation-time" by creating a system to deliver needed goods to the homeless and passing the torch of her existing business to someone who will love her clients as much as she does. Read her full story HERE.
We Deliver Your Donated Goods to the Homeless of Los Angeles
