Donation Center Story

Sacramento is an attractive city for new immigrants and refugees. It has good social programs, green parks, clean streets, and good schools. But many new immigrants, when they come to Sacramento, find that rent prices are too high and they have no money left to buy clothes or things for the house.

It is new immigrants who have become the main visitors to the Donation Center at the Elica Resource Center (ERC). Families with children can get not only clothes, but also toys, books and strollers here. Adults can find clothes for every day and for the holidays.

We were very touched by the story of Anna, who came to Sacramento in July. She asked for asylum in the U.S. on the California-Mexico border. After several weeks in the detention center, she and her young daughter came to Sacramento. Anna was told about the Donation Center by a pediatrician at Elica. Anna came on foot, since she didn’t have a car. She was able to get clothes for herself and the baby, as well as many toys.

“How am I going to carry all this home,” she worried.

At that moment, a family arrived at the ERC bringing donations. Since both Anna and the family spoke the same language, they said hello and got to talking. Soon, the family said they would take Anna home and the next day they would take her to the store to get groceries.

A week later, Anna came to the ERC once again.

She just wanted to say thank you for finding not only clothes and things here, but also her first friends who now help Anna and her child.

Do you have stuff you won’t use anymore and want to give away to people in need?

There is currently a great demand for:

• Men’s clothing and shoes
• Men’s jeans for construction work
• Clothes and shoes for boys
• Kitchen utensils and cookware
• Clothes hangers
• Personal care items

We’d love it if you could share.

5735 Watt Avenue, North Highlands, CA 95660
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.