Providing immediate relief to those in need.

From creator Tom Provost:

Seven years ago, I simply wanted to help a few of the many unhoused people I encountered on the streets of Los Angeles while driving. We currently have the largest homeless population in the country and driving in our city (we drive a lot in LA!.. ) you see and encounter people living on the streets everywhere.

From work I've done previously in this arena, I learned that giving money is not the best idea. So for many years if someone asked me for money, if I had the time I offered to buy them food instead. But I didn’t always have time.

I started thinking, then, of a way I could be ready to give someone food when asked for help. So I started keeping bags of food and water in my car that I could give to anyone who asked. Initially these were people holding a sign for help at a stop light or freeway exit.

I experimented a lot at first, beginning with the actual bag. I tried a few and landed on a large bag made of organic cotton that fits a lot of product and can also be reused in a variety of ways. 

Then came the challenge of which products to put in the bag. Talking to some of the people I met on the street, and to a few advocates for the unhoused, I slowly modified the contents of the bag. An example: I wanted to give as much protein as possible, so I included beef jerky. However, while talking to John, a man who lives with his wife and daughter under an overpass, I asked what else I could get them. A bit embarrassed, he smiled and said, "I need soft food. I don't have many teeth." Whoops. Beef jerky was not the best idea. 

As I continued to figure out what would be best, which also depends on what I could find and afford, I decided to add a few sundries. And socks are always in need, thus, a pair of socks is now included in every bag. Being cold at night in LA year round, I found some hoodies for about 13 bucks each and include them when I can. And recently I was told by someone I trust, Dr. Brett Feldman of Street Medicine (more later), that AA batteries would be a godsend. In the winter, we include a mylar blanket and hand and toe warmers.

For a detailed description of what’s in the bag, click here:

So I filled my truck with a few bags and hoodies, ready to help someone asking for help. After a while, that wasn't enough. So I started making, say, 20 or 30 bags and going to encampments - usually 10 or so tents under a bridge - and passing them out tent to tent. 

Every once in a while, like with John, I'll meet someone I see more than once and/or someone I trust enough to trade cell #'s. Matthew was such a guy. I met him in a Shell station parking lot and we connected. In his late 20's with the most beautiful smile and a remarkably upbeat attitude, I found out he lived under a bridge along the LA River (just north of where The 110 hits The 5). So a few times I was able to bring everyone living there bags and even fresh food, because we could set a time for me to drop by. 

The last time I went there, Matthew's hand was swollen three times its size. He'd been bitten by a spider. Still, he was upbeat as always. That night, however, he texted me at 3 AM saying he was in such pain he thought he was going to die. I started trying to see if I could find antibiotics anywhere... even illegally online. It is VERY hard to find antibiotics without a prescription. I guess that's good. I’m not 100% sure. I was frustrated as hell.

But… in my middle of the night search, I stumbled across this incredible bunch of medical people who drive around looking for homeless to give treatment:

USC street medicine

Great article about them

I found Dr. Brett Feldman's email on the site, emailed him and he emailed me back the next morning. By this time, I'd lost touch with Matthew, whom I've never heard from again. It's tough - these people can vanish in an instant, for a variety of reasons. Brett and his team went to the place along The 110/LA River to try to help, but everyone was gone. 

The good thing, though, is that I developed a relationship with Brett and his team. Along with my own distribution, I can give these bags to the Street Medicine team. They’re currently handing them out to the people they encounter. Which means… creating more bags.

I want to keep giving Street Medicine bags as well as creating them for my own continued use, while figuring out ways to further expand the outreach of Bags And Grace. 

For all of that, we need your help! Please donate if you can!

We also need help finding corporate sponsors and in-kind donations to bring down the costs of the bags. Lower cost equals more bags to hand out! 

As Bags And Grace expands, we’ll need more help producing bags, as well as figuring out more and more ways to distribute the bags. 

Please be in touch if you would like information, or to help, by using the contact link above.

Thank you for your time!

Our offices are located at: 652 Mateo Street, #107, LA, CA 90021