Street Life Ministries
Sharing God’s love with people living on the streets of the mid-peninsula 💛
Sharing God's love with people living on the streets of the mid-peninsula 💛
We are a community-based, non-profit organization that serves the homeless and at-risk populations of the Mid-Peninsula. We establish environments and build relationships where community volunteers can provide food and clothing, as well as referrals for shelter, addiction recovery, and other personal support.
Street Life Ministries (or SLM) began in 2001 at the downtown Menlo Park train station. Today, due to the help of many people, it now serves over 35,000 meals a year, five nights a week, in Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Redwood City. For 20 years SLM gatherings have built a reputation as the one consistent place the homeless can count on. Whether it is a holiday, a cloudy or rainy day, SLM never varies from the set schedule, giving the homeless a stable option throughout the year.
SLM is an established 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a board of directors, and is very different from many “feeding ministries.” It serves a unique role in the way it cares for the homeless and the hungry in San Mateo/Santa Clara Counties. Hot, home cooked meals served in outdoor venues are less threatening for our homeless neighbors, fostering a safe environment for relational connections to develop with the SLM leaders and volunteers. These connections build trust for guiding homeless friends toward healthier decisions, medical assistance, detox, rehab, housing, mentorship and counseling. In addition to food and encouragement, SLM provides clothing, toiletry kits, sleeping bags, medical supplies, temporary shelter, recovery services and job assistance to those in need.
SLM is also unique because it places its staff and its services “in the streets”, and “in the camps”, where the homeless live. It reaches more homeless people directly in those street locations than traditional professional service agencies. Additionally, no other homeless non-profit in the area provides local residents with the large number (over 6000 hours per year, estimated) of volunteer hours of opportunity to meet directly and be served on a face to face basis as we do. Homeless folks need love, care, trustworthy friends, and reliable, regular support to improve and/or recover. SLM is “in the trenches and on the street” every day, helping our homeless neighbors. SLM’s outreach can be accessed at all hours of the day and night.
Street Life is working on launching a 12 month all inclusive rehab program, the Homeless to Healthy program. Check our website for more details!
Fundraisers
Official fundraiser
Help Us Get Our Mobile Clothing Closet Back on the Road
Street Life Ministries is reaching out with an urgent need. Our mobile clothing closet van , which has faithfully served the homeless community for years, has suffered a major mechanical breakdown and requires a new engine . This van is the mobile extension of our Clothing Closet in Redwood City. It brings clothing, sleeping bags, blankets, and other essential soft goods directly to our evening meal sites and homeless camps throughout the Peninsula. For many of our neighbors living on the streets, this van is their only access to warm clothing and bedding. General Tires, our trusted repair partner, was able to do everything possible to save us money on this repair, but the total cost for parts and labor came out to $24,000 . This is an unplanned expense, and we are requesting the support of our community. We are humbly asking for your help via financial donations to recuperate the costs to get the van back on the road. Your gift will go directly toward repairing the van and restoring this vital service, ensuring no one is left without the clothing and supplies they desperately need. Thank you for your compassion and generosity. With your support, we will overcome this challenge and continue to serve those who rely on us.
- Raised
- $7,608
- Goal
- $24,000
7 supporters
DonateOfficial fundraiser
Help Us Provide Warmth and Hope to the Homeless This Winter
Street Life Ministries is committed to sharing God’s love by meeting the immediate and urgent needs of those experiencing homelessness. This winter, we are launching a one-month fundraiser with a goal to raise $3,000 to purchase sleeping bags. These sleeping bags will provide warmth, comfort, and a vital layer of protection from the elements. As temperatures drop this winter, many of our neighbors living on the streets of the San Francisco Peninsula are left vulnerable to the harsh elements. Without proper protection from the cold, they face life-threatening risks, including hypothermia, worsened medical conditions, and a deeper struggle with addiction. Nearly a quarter of all unhoused Americans live in California, and this year, the state’s homeless population has grown by another 3%. Many of these individuals are battling not just homelessness but the cold, damp nights that take a physical and emotional toll Every dollar you give makes a difference. Just $30 can provide one high-quality, weather-resistant sleeping bag to someone in need. Together, we can ensure that no one has to endure the freezing nights without hope. Your support will bring not only physical warmth but also a reminder of God’s love and the care of a compassionate community. Will you join us in making a difference this winter? Let’s show our unhoused neighbors that they are not forgotten. Donate today on Every.org and help us reach our goal of $3,000 by the end of the month. Together, we can make a tangible difference in their lives. “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” – Proverbs 19:17
- Raised
- $1,170
- Goal
- $3,000
8 supporters
DonateDonors
- Ricky Wade5
I am grateful to give because someone once gave to help me and that changed my life!
