by Dianne Anderson

It’s been ten years since Eloise Parker first started scrimping and saving every penny throughout the year to purchase some essential care kits as Christmastime neared to take to the homeless. That year, her nonprofit gave away 50 packages. The following year they purchased and gave away 100, and so it grew.

What got her started was the promise when she herself fell into the hard times of homelessness, that if only God got her out, she would give back to the people. She said that He gave her instructions for what He wanted her to do.

For those sleeping under carports, under bridges and on the riverbed, she feels it’s ridiculous that there is no location for them to receive shelter. Her nonprofit tries its best for a fast turnaround to quickly get donated and purchased items out to the community and to show people that they are not forgotten.

Her heart goes out to those who are less fortunate.

“Nobody is exempt from homelessness. We are just remembering these are all God’s People. I remember what it is to have wet shoes on, and what it is to sleep in the park,” said Parker, founder of GP (God’s People) Care Packages and Blankets of Love.

Her coworkers, church members, friends and family took notice. They could see the vision and started contributing, and the nonprofit is now providing many other items, such as shoe gift cards, care packages, bi-monthly giveaways and Christmas events.

On Saturday, December 14, she and volunteers will partner with community organizations in celebration of their 10th Annual Care Package and Blanket Giveaway at 14th Street Park.

“This year we’re going to be able to bless people with shoes again, tents, blankets, gift cards and other hygiene items,” she said, adding that last year.

Last year, they had a great turnout, reaching over 1,100 people between their bi-monthly and annual events. Because it has gained popularity, she said this year is a first come, first serve basis.

Homeless families sometimes bring their children, and she welcomes anyone who wants to support the cause by bringing an unwrapped toy for a child in need.

“It would be awesome to have toys to give to the kids,” said Parker, also a member of the Long Beach Chapter NCNW.

For Thanksgiving, her nonprofit gave dinner baskets to 100 individuals. For their Christmas celebration event, they are giving fast-food gift cards, hygiene items, scarves, and personal hygiene including deodorant, toothpaste as well as other necessities.

She said their long list of great sponsors is helping pull off another successful holiday event.

“We are doing ponchos and blankets, and we’re going to try to do shoes again. Last year we implemented brand new shoes, and we were discussing tents for those unhoused and possibly implementing that as well,” she said.

Why people become homeless is hard to define, but odds are it’s because there was not enough money. It’s not always about addictions. Some may have mental health or it may be dangerous to return home.

“They’re losing their homes, but they don’t have work, or income coming in, disabilities,” she said. “Sometimes they have trauma in a situation where they don’t want to go home. We don’t know what’s behind the situation, but we can’t judge.”

Araceli King said they are seeing an increase in the elderly, families with children and more youth. They have lost their homes because of the housing crisis, and unable to pay rent.

The Federal Reserve reported last year that one-third of Americans are facing dire straits, with 18% only able to cover a small emergency expense up to $100, and 14% said they could cover between $100 and $499.

For the elderly, another problem is that many can’t jump up and work like they used to.  Some are out struggling to push through the streets in their wheelchairs.

She said there’s a huge increase of elderly people coming out on the streets in need.

“We’re trying to make sure they have something they can be covered with, and a little bit of nonperishable food items. A lot of youth [are formerly foster], they don’t have another place they end up on the streets. A lot are college students are facing being unhoused,” said King, the nonprofit’s president.

Each year, about 400 agencies and nonprofits also turn to Food Finders, a food rescue organization that redistributes donated food back to community nonprofits for their clients.

Nothing goes to waste with the distribution. It’s in one hand and out the other.

Diana Lara, executive director of Food Finders expects them to hit 17 million pounds of food distributed by year’s end. Currently, they are at 15 million pounds through October with all foods directly distributed to agencies and nonprofits.

For participants, she said there are two requirements. One is General Liability Insurance coverage, which nonprofits must already have, and the other is a Food Safety Certification, which costs around $5.

“We probably have a minimum of 400 nonprofits that we work with. An agency just needs to go to our website and complete the agency application,” she said.

Their participating agencies and nonprofits are definitely seeing the increase in community need.

For individuals, Food Finders offers one direct distribution on the fourth Saturday of each month at their Community Marketplace, where she said the majority of those in line, or about 85%, are seniors.

“It’s not only for seniors, but seniors unfortunately are our growing population, especially our baby boomers are aging out. We know that that is going to be a huge problem the next five or ten years,” she said.

To support GP Care Packages and Blankets of Love, see https://gpcarepackages.org/

For 501c3 Nonprofits looking to partner for food, or to volunteer, see

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