Support families in Central California

Our donation drives are at the heart of our mission, providing vital support to families facing hardship. Discover how your generosity can bring immediate relief and lasting hope to our community.

Making an immediate impact

The main goal of our donation drives is to make sure our community in Central California has consistent access to essential items that ease daily stress and help them feel supported. By providing clothing, hygiene products, water, and other necessities, we’re filling gaps that many families face during hardship. Each drive is designed to reduce the weight on people's shoulders, restore a sense of dignity, and create immediate, tangible relief that helps families move forward with confidence.

What we always need

The most helpful items for our donation drives are everyday essentials our community relies on most — new socks and underwear, hygiene products, chap stick, lotion, deodorant, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, hair brush, laundry detergent, hygiene wipes. First aid, flashlights, batteries. Slightly used/gently worn shoes & clothing for men, women, and children. Diapers, formula, baby wipes, baby essentials. Water, non-perishable snacks, tote bags, and back packs.  Blankets, towels, bedding, tarps, and umbrellas. We also deeply appreciate pet‑care items for displaced families, such as dog and cat food, collapsible bowls, leashes, flea & tick medicine,  and basic pet hygiene supplies. Seasonal needs like sunscreen, hats, hand held fans, water canteens, and cooling items in summer or warm layers, hand warmers, and gloves in winter are always valuable. These core donations help us keep our Community Closet stocked and ensure families — including their pets — can access what they need with dignity.

How to donate

The easiest way to donate is by dropping items off at our location, 1455 W 25th St in Merced, CA. You can place donations directly into our Black Donation Bin anytime between 10 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Sunday. We also accept monetary contributions through Cash App at $EmpireRooted, which helps us purchase high‑need essentials and restock items we run out of quickly. Whether you give supplies or financial support, every donation directly helps families in our community.

Your donation makes a difference

Every donation makes an immediate difference. Just last month, a mother came to one of our pop‑ups with nothing but the clothes her kids were wearing. Because of donors, we were able to give her clean outfits, hygiene items, water, and even pet food for their dog who’d been displaced with them. She left with relief on her face — not because everything was fixed, but because someone cared enough to make sure her family had what they needed that day. That’s the power of every bag dropped in our bin or every dollar sent to $EmpireRooted. It turns stress into stability and gives families a moment to breathe.