Dear Project Ropa Community,
Happy February, and welcome to our first newsletter of the new year! As we step into 2026, we are filled with gratitude and excitement. This year marks Project Ropa’s 10-year anniversary. A decade of dignity, access, and community care would not have been possible without each of you.
Reaching this milestone gives us a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come. In our earliest days, our founder distributed clothing essentials from her personal car, alongside mobile showers, meeting people directly where they were with whatever resources were available. Today, that small grassroots effort has grown into an organization with three vehicles, a dedicated staff of six, and a 1,200-square-foot warehouse. Despite this growth, clothing is still not recognized as an essential need in California, even as demand continues to rise.
We now have a waitlist of 250+ service sites requesting clothing supplies and hygiene kits, and there simply isn’t enough funding to meet demand. Over the last year, federal and state funding cuts have created a domino effect for small basic-needs organizations like ours. We need your help to keep our doors open and services moving forward. Please consider making a donation; any amount truly makes a difference.
With gratitude,
The Project Ropa Team
Welcome New Leadership
This January, we welcomed a new Co-Executive Director to share leadership with our founder, Caitlin Adler. Please join us in warmly welcoming Paul Asplund-Dirani to Project Ropa.
Paul brings deep lived experience alongside extensive leadership in community-centered and human services organizations. His background includes leading operations and partnerships at organizations such as Better Angels, Lava Mae, Dignity on Wheels, Pico Union Project, and founding Second Grace LA. His work spans homelessness, access to hygiene, community partnerships, and systems-level collaboration. As he joins Caitlin in guiding Project Ropa into our 10th year, we are excited to continue building an organization rooted in dignity, access, and meaningful impact.
The Growing Need
Demand for clothing and hygiene essentials continues to grow. Recently, we received these messages:
“I am homeless, unemployed, and 60. I have no resources to provide myself with essentials for personal hygiene. I am also not able to get laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, bleach, stain remover, and cleaning supplies. I would greatly appreciate any help that you can provide me with.”
“Hello… I am a 51-year-old woman and disabled. I currently do not receive social security and have no source of income. I desperately need assistance in getting all hygiene needs. If you can please help me and my kids I would be so grateful.”
These are just two of many voices reaching out. The need is real, urgent, and growing. Together, we can respond.
How You Can Help
To sustain this work, monetary donations are essential. Any amount makes a meaningful difference. Your contribution helps us provide clothing and hygiene essentials to people who are often forced to choose between food, clothing, and basic care.
If you’re looking for a way to give back this year, we invite you to:
- Volunteer your time
- Make a donation
- Help spread the word
Thank you to every volunteer, donor, and supporter who makes this work possible. Your compassion fuels everything we do.
2025 Impact
Because of your support, in 2025, we were able to help make a powerful difference:
124,000+ garments given a second life
6,500+ hygiene kits distributed
5,000+ people served with dignity-centered care
From the streets to the warehouse, our staff and volunteers show up with heart, purpose, and so much care. These moments are more than photos; they reflect what true community care looks like in action.