Happy July! For our friends in San Francisco, we are at the familiar whims of the ever-changing weather. For us, we’re happy to say that the clouds have parted for some metaphorical sunshine this month.
Last weekend, a Raphael House family welcomed a newborn baby into the world! We are so thrilled to bring this little one into our supportive network to ensure a healthy start to a new life.
For those of our friends who have had children, you’ll know that the process is neither easy nor cheap. At Raphael House, we provide any requested toiletries and necessary items like diapers and clothing to all our residents. Pictured here is our toddler room, where young ones have a quiet space and a plethora of toys to support their early childhood development!
Fun fact: Did you know that Raphael House is San Francisco’s first and oldest shelter for families experiencing homelessness? In 1971, Ella Hoffman Rigney set out to create a place where community members in need of housing could find the beginnings of a new life. 54 years later, we at Raphael House were delighted to meet with Chris and Lauren DiGangi, our founder’s great-grandson and great-great-granddaughter! Chris and Lauren toured Raphael House and shared memories of Ella’s life (including a very salty chili she liked to cook).
Ella Hoffman Rigney’s memory lives all around Raphael House (in fact, our library is named after her!). We are constantly inspired by her dedication to a life of generosity and service. Raphael House is constantly growing and evolving, but we are grateful to have ushered in so many generations of change in our long history.
Learn more about our founder, Ella Hoffman Rigney
Thanks to our generous donors, we’ve met our goal! We now have enough supplies to distribute to all our kids in our Residential Shelter and Bridge Programs. But let’s keep going—because the need for your support is year round. Your gift will support our ongoing Children’s Services program, which includes one-on-one tutoring, funding for extracurricular activities, and more.
Your donation can provide children experiencing homelessness with the foundations of long-term academic and socio-emotional growth. Last month, we celebrated student graduations of Raphael House Bridge Program participants headed to college!
Donate to our Back-to-School fund!
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