Help the Homeless Eat this Holiday with PATH's Imaginary Feast

October 24, 2018 by Eric White

Each holiday season, many of us are lucky to be surrounded by family with plates full of food. Or maybe it's your tradition to attend a holiday event. Perhaps a holiday dinner, gala or other event is on your radar this year. 

PATH, a California-based nonprofit working to address the issue of homelessness, is asking that instead of heading to a holiday event, you stay in with your family and friends and donate the money you would have spent out. It's part of their holiday initiative called The Imaginary Feast and they're hoping to use the donations raised this year to help 10,000 people "Make It Home" by the year 2020. 

Let's get into a bit about the details of this holiday campaign and a brief overview on PATH.

PATH's Imaginary Feast

Homelessness is a serious social crisis facing many major cities in the United States, from New York to Seattle. In California, where the weather is almost always beautiful, homelessness is very prevalent and PATH is one of many organizations working to fight the issue. PATH has been able to work with local governments in cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Jose to implement changes and give the homeless population resources to improve their lives.

In San Diego, for example, PATH has worked with the local government to build a PATH center in the heart of downtown. In this building, PATH offers shelter, permanent housing, regular and reliable meals everyday and other free resources for those admitted. In just over 4 years, PATH has helped over 8,500 people Make It Home in over 140 cities up and down California with efforts like this.

This holiday season, PATH is kicking off their Imaginary Feast initiative, mentioned above. For every $1,000 donated to PATH, one person can Make It Home. This donation goes towards providing basic needs like clothing and food, housing, transportation and access to the resources offered by PATH like finance workshops, AA meetings, computer access, cooking classes and more. By deciding to stay home instead of heading to a holiday event, you can save that money and put it towards helping get someone off the streets and into a better life.

People end up homeless for a variety of reasons, from deteriorating mental and physical health, to poor money management, trauma from military service and unexpected life turns. PATH is taking the issue head on by working directly with people and building relationships with them. It's through these relationships that PATH has been able to help make a dent in the California homeless population which numbers over 118,000 people.

Get in Touch with PATH

If getting involved with PATH sounds like something you'd be interested in, then we'd encourage you to follow PATH on social media channels in addition to learning more about how you can partner with PATH. PATH is currently on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.