"Alongside clothing, Garcia assembled small blessings in a bag filled with hygiene essentials. A young boy about 8 years of age asked if he could have one, she said. He yelled across the room, Mom, I got a new toothbrush.' I had to walk away the most basic item anyone can have, and here a small boy is so excited about it."
"That same day, a grieving mother approached Garcia, unsure how she would afford school clothes after losing her husband months earlier. The encounters reshaped Garcia's vision. Although basic needs are important, the emotional support is needed as well, she said. I began to meet people one-on-one and have conversations. Gracefully Broken originally operated as part of Antioch Covenant Church (antiochcovenant.org), where Garcia hosted outreach events."
Gracefully Broken is a nonprofit founded by Antioch native Randi Garcia that has spent three-and-a-half years serving residents across East Contra Costa County. The organization began as a small clothing giveaway and expanded into food, clothing, resource distribution, family events, and volunteer outreach rooted in dignity and compassion. Garcia added hygiene "blessings in a bag" and responded to individual needs after encounters with a young boy excited for a toothbrush and a grieving mother who needed school clothes. The effort originally operated from Antioch Covenant Church and became an independent nonprofit last July to broaden access while remaining welcoming and nonreligious in participation.
Read at www.eastbaytimes.com
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