Central City Hospitality House has been serving the homeless community in San Francisco's Tenderloin district since 1967. Programs include a shelter for homeless adults, a drop-in self help center, an employment program, and a community arts studio program. Working Essentials supports the center with item donations, allowing the clients to focus on the future.

Here are some examples of art work that the visitors of the center have produced.

Keith, below, visits the center regularly to paint. He believes that it has helped him stay focused, and given him a way to express himself.

Robb's passion is carving miniature musical instruments and painting them. Below are examples of his guitars. He is proud of his ability to produce his artwork, and says it helps him feel good about himself.

The Haight-Ashbury Food Program's Job Training Project provides a twelve-week intensive training course covering culinary arts as well as job and life skills. During their training, the students prepare meals for up to 300 people each day and attend classes on cooking theory, kitchen safety and sanitation. This program prepares the students to enter the San Francisco Bay Area food service field.

Below are the students during their training course preparing a meal for the center. Many of the students are homeless or in transition, and make a commitment to get back on their feet. Working Essentials provides the necessary items to enable their success.

The following story was sent to us by one of our receiving agencies:

"Mr. F, who is homeless, was interested in working for Coronet Distribution distributing advertisement flyers house-to-house. However, his clothing was threadbare, torn and food spotted. It had also been very cold at night for several days and he hadn't been able to get much sleep. When he received two $10 clothing vouchers from Working Essentials, he was able to get a complete change of clothes, including a warm coat and blanket.

The change in his appearance the next day was remarkable. So was the boost in his self-confidence. He was able to work for Coronet Distribution for several days as well as attend employment workshops at Mission Employment Office on 16th Street. He is now working and making enough income to afford to rent a room in an SRO hotel in the Mission District.

I am convinced that he would still be homeless and unemployed had it not been for the donated clothing vouchers from Working Essentials."

These stories are what keep us moving forward. Please consider helping us continue our mission.

A big Thank You from Working Essentials!