LONG BEACH, CA (May 5, 2025) – The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is proud to announce the return of Fresh Start, a seasonal hygiene drive running May 5 through June 30, 2025, aimed at supporting Downtown’s unhoused neighbors through community-powered donations and resource connection.
“As economic pressures and housing instability persist across the region, Fresh Start offers a meaningful way for residents, businesses, and visitors to take action,” said Austin Metoyer, president and CEO of the DTLB Alliance.
Donation boxes are now placed at participating Downtown locations, collecting essential hygiene products for distribution through trusted service organizations including the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA), CSULB Beach Pantry, and Long Beach City College’s Viking Vault. These groups offer everything from showers and meals to job training and transitional housing support — providing real pathways toward dignity and long-term stability.
“Our Clean and Safe team works daily to make Downtown more welcoming and accessible for everyone — and that includes our unhoused neighbors,” said Juan Torres, Operations Manager at the DTLB Alliance. “Fresh Start is more than a donation drive. It’s a community effort that helps us build trust, meet people’s basic needs, and serve as a bridge to long-term services that can change lives.”
Fresh Start is part of the Alliance’s broader commitment to public safety, community care, and partnership-driven outreach. By engaging local businesses as donation hubs, the program brings visibility to ongoing needs while empowering everyday people to contribute in a direct and meaningful way.
Current donation drop-off locations* include:
- ISM Brewing – 210 E 3rd St, Unit A
- Modica’s Deli – 455 E Ocean Blvd
- Hyatt Centric – 285 Bay St
- Courtyard by Marriott – 500 E 1st St
- Hyatt Regency – 200 S Pine Ave
- Downtown Long Beach Alliance Offices – 100 W. Broadway, Suite 235
*More locations will be added throughout the campaign.
Requested items include new, unopened hygiene products such as shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, menstrual products, socks, and more. Donations are collected regularly and distributed in partnership with frontline service providers to ensure timely delivery and impact.
To learn more about how to support Fresh Start, including a full list of items and drop-off locations, visit www.downtownlongbeach.org/freshstart.
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About: The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is a nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to cultivate, preserve and promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous Downtown. The DTLB Alliance is recognized as the voice of Downtown Long Beach by the City of Long Beach and the State of California. By balancing the interests of the residents, as well as businesses, the organization creates tangible progress by way of vested interest and solidified partnerships across local, municipal, and commercial lines. For additional information, visit www.downtownlongbeach.org and follow on Facebook @downtownlongbeach, on “X” (formerly Twitter) @dtlballiance and Instagram @dtlballiance.