PATH Program History

PLI Assisting The Hungry and Homeless - PATH

Working in the heart of downtown San Bernardino doesn't come without a clear view of our community and the resources they sometimes lack or may struggle to obtain. That is what inspired us to start our PATH program.

2013 Start Up

In 2013, we introduced our PLI Assisting the Hungry and Homeless program, or PATH as we call it. This program was aimed towards providing a regular source of nutritional food to veterans as well as the homeless.

When doors opened to the PATH program in April 2013, 37 veterans and 133 members of the community received fresh food free of charge. It has steadily increased since then.

Clothing

The success of the food distribution lead to the addition of a clothing distribution. Through many donations and a collaborative effort on the part of our PLI staff and community, we were able to provide free clothes, shoes, and personal hygiene products.

This added element gave our veterans, as well as other community members, access to clothes and shoes they might not otherwise be able to provide. This program not only provided dress attire for those actively seeking employment opportunities, but it also provided shoes for those who had come with none, and personal hygiene products for the homeless in need.

The Downsizing

Both distributions had become an instant success, and word was getting out. Whether small or large, PLI was helping to make a direct impact on our community.

However, the success of the PATH program was short lived as the location of our distributions and center of operations was sold. The PLI headquarters moved, though still located in downtown San Bernardino it became office space only with no room for distributions of any kind.

With no other choice, our distributions came to an end.

A New Partnership

In light of smaller work space and an abrupt end to one of our most beloved programs, the PLI staff pushed forward. Not willing to see the PATH program end indefinitely, PLI set off to establish new partnerships that would help secure an alternate location for our distributions.

One such partnership came in the form of the 5th Street Senior Center. They saw a need for food distributions not just within their community as a whole, but within their patrons as well. A partnership formed and the senior center offered use of their parking lot as a location for the food distribution.

It was through this partnership that the PATH food distribution was re-established, with the added bonus of not only helping the veterans and homeless in our community, but now more specifically, our seniors as well.

PATH Today

Today, more than 100 veterans and over 300 members of the community are served at each distribution day.

In keeping with the needs of the seniors that utilize the 5th Street Senior Center, our distributions days have been scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. Our doors open at 10 am to veterans, and military personnel and their families, and at 11 am to the rest of our community.

*Donations and volunteers are always welcomed to assist with these distributions days. If you would like more information, feel free to contact us.