SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- An empty lot turned into a temporary camp for San Diego's homeless is providing shelter to over 200 people.
Over 50 of them are children and camp organizers say they could use donations to make it an even more comfortable stay for the kids.
"It makes it easier for us to focus on what we have to do as parents, knowing they're helping to keep our kids happy and healthy," said Abbra Towe, a mother to two girls.
Towe says the parents at the campground help each other out. On Monday morning one of the moms was in the hospital so Towe helped watch her six children.
Parents say the camp gives them a feeling they haven't felt in a while.
"It's safe. The staff, the employees, they've got huge hearts and it's obvious," said Towe.
Olga Gomez is another mother staying at the camp. She was raised in the foster system and never had a family to support her. But now she has a family of her own, four children, who are her whole world.
Their old home was shut down because of health hazards, and since then, it's been hard finding a steady place to live.
"The last two nights before we were here, we slept outside of the convention center, that garden, my husband didn't sleep at all he stayed up making sure we were ok, it was a tough night," remembers Gomez.
Gomez is licensed to be a certified nursing assistant, being homeless was never part of her plan.
"Knowing we weren't in danger, that was like the first thing they said to us, this is where you can feel safe, and it's true," said Gomez.
The Alpha Project keeps the camp running smoothly. They want to expand the play area for the children and are in need of new or gently used donations.
- Clothing
- Toys
- Games
- Books
- Diapers
- Formula
- Tarps
- Large tents for families
- Scotchgard
Items can be dropped off at the site location: 1484 Caminito Center, San Diego, CA 92102.
