Help Save the Opportunity Center

Hallelujah!
We met our goal of raising $10,000
to support the Opportunity Center
and
we matched it with an additional $10,000

Thanks be to God...
and blessings on all who participated!

First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto recently announced a challenge grant designed to benefit homeless families dependent on the Opportunity Center, the midpeninsula housing and service agency that is located just off El Camino in downtown Palo Alto. 

Specifically, we committed $10,000 in funds for the Opportunity Center, with the intent of encouraging the community to step up to the challenge and raise an additional $10,000 for the Center’s current staffing and program needs. And together we did it!

The Opportunity Center, which opened its doors in 2006, is operated by InnVision, a San Jose-based organization dedicated to empowering homeless families and individuals by providing food, housing, medical care, counseling, shelter and emergency services.  It provides 88 permanent housing units for people in need, including 18 multi-room units for families. First Presbyterian Church was one of several local churches that led fundraising and volunteer support for building the Opportunity Center through a multi-denominational group called Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA). 

Like many non-profit organizations, InnVision is struggling in these difficult economic times due to cuts in state funding and reduced levels of community donations. In addition to offering the Opportunity Center’s housing and services, InnVision oversees the Hotel de Zink program, through which 12 local churches host emergency shelter space and provide meals for 15-18 homeless people on a monthly rotation. First Presbyterian Church hosted homeless guests last July, and will do so again this July. The church also serves hot dinners to those in need every Wednesday night and gathers food weekly for the InnVision-Urban Ministry of Palo Alto downtown Food Closet.

In addition to food, the church collects personal hygiene products, blankets, towels, diapers, clothing and gift certificates to stores and restaurants, all of which are distributed directly to the Opportunity Center’s clients.

Additional donations in response to this challenge grant are always welcome and should be made out to First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto and sent to: 

One hundred percent of the funds donated will go directly to the Opportunity Center.  All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Thank you!