Unity Shoppe
Mission Statement
To provide the basic necessities of life while encouraging self-sufficiency and independent living during periodic times of crisis for low-income families, children the elderly and those affected by fire, flood and disaster.
Vision Statement
- To enable self-sufficiency and independence with dignity.
- To promote a better quality of life through community support and education.
- To provide disaster awareness and basic need programs that educate and prevent social and economic problems from escalating.
- To encourage the spirit of community and understanding among people from diverse cultures races and religions.
What We Do
We provide a “Central Distribution Facility” for the use of all non-profit agencies, social service organizations, churches, schools and hospitals. Over 300 different service groups are now referring their low-income clients to this facility during times of crisis.
We operate a “Free Store” where qualified people can shop, eliminating wasteful giving. By documenting and qualifying those that need support services, by eliminating duplication of services more people can find better and more consistent support services throughout the year. We coordinate food drives and collect donated merchandise whenever possible. We also purchase needed foods items that are generally not donated to us. We add healthy, nutritious food to our inventory so children, families and the elderly can be given healthy choices.
To operate the “free grocery store” for a year, it takes over $900,000 in food supplies. We are always in need of Pinto Beans, Rice, Baby Food, Chicken Soup, Whole Corn, Peanut Butter, Tuna, Cereal, Milk, Fruit, Eggs, Meat Products and Chicken. The Unity Shoppe also purchases and collects school supplies, clothing, shoes, household goods, basic necessities and furniture to distribute to qualified clients.
We work with over 6,000 community volunteers to collect funding, food donations and support for the “Free Store.” We use the store to teach merchandising, customer service, inventory control, office and computer skills. While our volunteers help their low-income neighbors, they are also learning job skills for future employment opportunities.
Over 75,000 visits are made to the “free store” throughout the year.
This is a community project of staggering proportions. We share what we have with everyone that needs our services. We believe in preventing serious problems for the families we serve and our community. By helping people before their problems escalate, they can retain their jobs and their homes. By supplementing their income with needed food and clothing, they can use their limited dollars to pay their rent. With proper support, they can avoid welfare dependency and homelessness while they work toward self-sufficiency.
Everyone benefits by supporting this
“Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Community project!
Contact
1219 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 965-4122