News
No-Cook Food Bags
The SLO Food Bank’s No-Cook Bags are packages of food curated to meet the dietary needs and lifestyle of people experiencing homelessness. They contain food that is nutritious and does not require heat or appliances to prepare. Last year, the SLO Food Bank packed and distributed more than 30,400 No-Cook Bags. Shower the People’s Thursday shower shift is one of the sites where these food bags are distributed, thanks to Shower the People volunteers.
SLO Board of Supervisors Recognizes Outgoing Shower the People General Manager Gwen Watkins
“Gwen Watkins has demonstrated outstanding and unselfish service to the communities of San Luis Obispo county by contributing extensively through her exceptional generosity in volunteerism and leadership,” begins a resolution passed by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on December 17th. “She, as founder, president, and general manager of Shower of the People, has ensured that those in need have access to a free, hot shower, five days a week.… Her compassion, generosity, and humble leadership have guided the efforts of the all-volunteer run organization since its founding in 2017.” Watkins is retiring from her position as Shower the People General Manager at the end of 2024.
Free Health Clinic
Vituity Cares offers a free health clinic each month alongside our showers at the downtown SLO library. In cooperation with the Access Support Network and WashMeGo, the clinic offers diagnosis, treatment, testing, immunizations, prescriptions, haircuts, and even lunch. In 2024 they served 340 guests at our shower site, administering 120 medical exams and 70 vaccinations.
Veterans Stand Down
Shower the People brought our shower trailer to the annual Veterans Stand Down, held on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Santa Maria Fairpark in Santa Maria. We’ve offered showers at every Stand Down since 2017.
KSBY, KCBX: Shower the People in search of volunteers
Shower the People was featured on KSBY news on Sunday, August 4th in a story by reporter Karson Wells. “Volunteers with Shower the People shared with KSBY News about the positive impact they have in the community and how they could use your help. The volunteers and those who are struggling said it has become almost like a family.” KCBX added their own story: “SLO nonprofit working to shower unsheltered people needs more volunteers” — “Everybody who’s part of the organization is doing it because they want to be there. The more volunteers we have, the more effective we can be as an organization.”
Shower the People Opens New Site in SLO
On July 18, 2024, Shower the People inaugurated a new operating site at the San Luis Obispo BMW dealership on Calle Joaquin. We will be giving showers there from 4pm to 7pm every Thursday until Thanksgiving. This coincides with the free “Blessed to Serve” dinner that the dealership and its employees serve on Thursday evenings.