LETTERS FROM EAST OAKLAND

Give directly. Change a Family's Story.

This spring, Letters Charity will be in East Oakland to deliver immediate, life-changing support to families facing crisis. Through our data-driven, dignified process, we’re identifying a group of Oakland families experiencing sudden hardship—such as job loss, serious illness, or displacement—and providing them with direct financial grants, technology, and comfort items tailored to their needs.

Our goal is simple: remove barriers, respond quickly, and put resources directly into the hands of families when they need it most. 100% of every donation goes straight to families in need—no red tape, no waiting, just help when it matters most.

Join us in turning hardship into hope, one family at a time.

At least 90% of East Oakland residents live in poverty—an urgent crisis impacting almost every family. Black and Latinx communities carry a disproportionate share of this burden, dealing with low incomes, health challenges, and limited resources.

Our Response

When crisis hits, families need help fast—and often the traditional support systems are slow or complicated. Letters Charity steps in to fill that gap by delivering immediate, unconditional aid directly to those who need it most. Every penny donated to the Letters From East Oakland campaign will go directly to affected families, empowering them with resources and dignity when it matters most.

What Your Gift Provides:

a significant direct financial grant to a family in crisis
Computers or tablets for remote learning and work
Essential comfort items to ease immediate challenges
100% of your donation goes directly to families—no overhead, no delays

How It Works

We have partnered with East Oakland Pride Elementary, a school deeply rooted in the community and dedicated to supporting its families and students. Together, we identify families in crisis who are facing urgent financial hardship using a transparent, data-driven process.

Using school and community data, we select families experiencing sudden crises such as job loss, severe illness, or displacement.
These families are invited to share their personal stories and needs directly with us.
We deliver direct financial grants, technology, and essential comfort items quickly and confidentially.
We provide donors with regular updates and impact stories, so you can see the real difference your support makes.

Why This Matters

In East Oakland, crisis isn’t just an event—it’s a daily reality for too many families. Life's challenges, difficult for anyone, come on top of long-standing struggles with poverty and limited resources. When disaster strikes here, the impact is magnified because families often lack access to the safety nets reserved for the privileged.

Traditional systems can be slow, complex, and impersonal—leaving families stuck in limbo when they need help most. That’s why our approach is different. We cut through the red tape to deliver direct, unconditional support quickly and respectfully. We trust families to know what they need, and we stand with them as they rebuild their lives with dignity.

How You Can Help

Donate Now: Every penny goes directly to East Oakland families. Letters Charity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so your donation is tax deductible.
Share: Spread the word about this campaign on social media.
Follow: Stay updated on our impact by following us on social media @letterscharity and signing up for our email list.

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More About Letters Charity

Letters Charity transforms compassion into direct financial support for families experiencing poverty, providing assistance without expectation or judgment. Best known for our Letters To Santa program—a Chicago institution since 1995—we've brought hope to thousands of families through unconditional giving. Each holiday season, Letters To Santa surprises families with both essential items and a significant cash grant, demonstrating the power of immediate, unrestricted financial support. Building on this proven model of direct assistance, we continue to expand our impact through emergency relief initiatives, ensuring that every penny donated goes directly to families in need.