LONG BEACH, CA (June 16, 2026) – The Downtown Long Beach Alliance (DTLB Alliance) is proud to announce the return of Fresh Start, a seasonal hygiene drive running through July 17, 2026, aimed at supporting Downtown’s unhoused neighbors through community-powered donations and resource connection.
“As housing affordability and economic challenges continue to impact communities across Southern California, Fresh Start gives our Downtown community a simple but meaningful way to support neighbors in need,” said Austin Metoyer, president and CEO of the DTLB Alliance. “Every donation helps provide essential items while connecting individuals with organizations that offer critical services, resources, and pathways toward greater stability.”
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, while providing real pathways toward dignity and long-term stability.
“Our Clean and Safe team works every day to help make Downtown welcoming and accessible for everyone,” 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 connect people with essential resources, meet immediate needs, and support organizations that are creating pathways toward long-term stability.”
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 the community to contribute in a direct and meaningful way.
Current donation drop-off locations* include:
- Rise Juice & Coffee – 246 E 3rd
- Pedal Movement – 223 E 1st
- Touch’d Hair Studio – 137 W 5th
- Soul Feed – 248 E 7th
- Karing Pediatrics – 936 Pine Ave.
- Courtyard By Marriott – 500 E 1st
- Billie Jean King Main Library – 200 W Broadway
- Green Wisdom – 702 Cedar Ave.
*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.