In 2013, KTVU’s Frank Sommerville covered a story involving an East Bay family transitioning from a shelter to a home. Sommerville’s wife Donna took it upon herself to gather items to stock the family’s empty abode. Volunteers then helped to set-up the apartment. The effort was rewarding, and Donna, along with her friend Chris Flitter, set out to formalize and expand on the idea that a community can come together quickly and easily to make a difference. Thus, Grateful Gatherings was born, its mission being to improve lives by providing quality furniture and household goods to those transitioning out of homelessness and poverty.

Grateful Gatherings believes that by providing families in transition – or those having faced tragedy – with a safe, warm, comfortable, and well-equipped home, they have greater chance for success, and we at the Dana Green Team wholeheartedly agree. That’s why we are sponsoring a Grateful Gatherings ‘chapter event’ on Saturday, September 9. Our team and additional volunteers will donate, collect, deliver, and furnish households for two families.

Donna, Chris, and their team work closely with various social service and nonprofit agencies in seeking the families they assist. They ask each family to create a list of needs (furniture, kitchen items, beds, clothes, toys, linens, appliances, etc. – anything that makes a home feel like home). The wish list is then sent to the Grateful Gatherings grassroots network of donors via email and Facebook. We will be utilizing our own staging inventory and network to seek donations for our two sponsored families. Please refer to our SignUpGenius list (link found here) for more information, and to indicate items you are able to donate.

Grateful Gatherings is unique in that donated items or funds go straight to families in need. Donors witness the direct impact of their donations and can see the difference their gifts make. We are excited to partner with this amazing organization in our ongoing commitment to the East Bay community and look forward to your involvement on September 9.