- Ben Cheever
- Communications Director
- ben.cheever@asm.ca.gov
STOCKTON – This week, the City of Stockton unanimously approved $400,000 in State funds for Loads of Hope, a nonprofit that provides free services to homeless individuals in our community. The $400,000 allocation was championed by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua in the 2023 State Budget.
“Loads of Hope has provided a beacon of light for our community that continues to need support for our homeless individuals,” said Assemblymember Villapudua. “Their innovative methods of uplifting people in need, and going directly into communities in distress, will continue to play a pivotal role now and into the future.”
Operated out of the Uplift All Foundation, Loads of Hope provides free laundry, haircuts, showers, restrooms, and case management services for the homeless community. On-site staff are ready and able to assist anyone who may need help filling out forms for social welfare benefits, and instructors come in throughout the week to lead classes in yoga, dance, and art.
The nonprofit operates five days a week out of the St. John’s Church parking lot in Downtown Stockton. However, their mobile “laundrovans” allow them to go into areas affected by disaster or hardship. Ron Amador, Director of Services, recalled working with FEMA during the 2023 floods to serve the communities in Acampo and Manteca.
The $400,000 will help Loads of Hope afford new vehicles, service their existing equipment, and provide staff support.
Recent studies have demonstrated that clean clothes not only prevent diseases that can spread, but also promotes positive brain activity, relaxation, a happier mood, and greater self-esteem. The general hygiene services provided by Loads of Hope go above and beyond what many in our community are used to.