An Oakland holiday tradition that brings together volunteers to deliver much needed supplies to homeless residents took place this weekend, despite the pandemic.
The organizers of the “Mob Alley Christmas Party” made a few changes because of the coronavirus.
“Yeah this is a little different,” said Organizer Griz Jones. “We used to have a 50 foot passenger bus.”
Jones told KCBS Radio that they’re using a car caravan this year, as volunteers set out to make deliveries at homeless encampments around the city.
The group behind it all is Forever Oakland, which operates under the slogan “Make Oakland Better,” hence the name MOB or “Mob Alley Christmas Party.”
“This event today is a reflection of our year-round work,” Jones said.
The group, which came together originally around fandom for the Oakland raiders, has been leading monthly trash cleanup days over the course of the pandemic, still with a bit of a tailgate flavor to them.
Now that the weather is getting colder, volunteer Rabia Keeble says it’s doubly important that they don’t let up.
“There are people that don’t have homes, don’t have beds, don’t have blankets,” she said. “We have to help people out as much as possible.”
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