Help shower program volunteers meet our matching fund goal of $4,500 -- which means that the first $4,500 donated will result in a total of $9,000 raised.
On Saturday mornings, dozens of volunteers from the greater Long Beach area gather at St. Luke’s Shower Program to provide more than 100 unhoused neighbors with showers, clothes, food (in partnership with Manna Meals, several local churches and other organizations), and a safe place to be.
There are few places you can walk in and shower in Long Beach with no ID or application required, making St. Luke’s Shower Program a critical resource in the city.
Having access to bathrooms and being able to shower and put on clean clothes nurtures both personal health and emotional well-being. As guests emerge from their showers, they often comment that they "feel human again." Receiving a hot meal as well as fruit and snacks to go provides comfort and sustenance for many who face food insecurity.
At our Nurses' Station, volunteer nurses treat wounds (primarily on their feet and lower legs), provide foot care, and encourage guests to seek follow-up medical attention, if appropriate.
Your donation and support make our program possible.
Testimonials
Dee was a regular at the Shower Program for years and now volunteers, sorting fresh clothing donations for guests. Dee's pride in giving back was visible, as she also told us that without St. Luke’s Shower Program’s support and belief in her, she would not have been able to make the transition from the street to permanent housing.
My name is Robert Freese and a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. A few years ago, on my first shift with the Shower Program, I had little idea what I was getting into and by the end I was drained, numb, and certain that I did not have the right temperament for this project. However, I stuck with Showers and got to know our guests not just as “the homeless” but as individuals. I realized that some are very sweet people, while others are tough to deal with – often struggling with various demons. You hear stories that are heart-breaking and others that make you laugh. Volunteering in the Shower Program is a deeply humbling experience and a great reality check that puts everything else in my life into perspective.
St. Luke's is an inclusive, multicultural community pursuing spiritual and social transformation.
For almost 125 years, St. Luke's has served downtown Long Beach enhancing the vitality of our community, and responding to the needs of our neighbors.
Our Shower Program's short and long term goals are the same—with care and respect, we provide a safe place to be on Saturday mornings, as well as food, clean clothing, showers, and other resources.
Our target audience is the unhoused, which includes people living on the streets, in cars, shelters, and in transitional housing.
On Saturdays, our all-volunteer team typically serves well over 100 guests with a broad range of hospitality services, monthly haircuts, secured charging station, community garden program, and a nurse's station.
Organization name
St. Luke's Shower Program
Tax id (EIN)
95-1768855
Operating Budget
Small ($0 - $99,999)
Mission Category
Children, Youth, & Family, Individuals with Disabilities, Food Security, Seniors, Social Services
City Council District
District 1
Address
525 E. 7th StreetLong Beach, CA, US