Mission

The mission of Arsola’s Distribution Center and Community Services is to provide safe, comfortable, stable housing and support services, to bring about social, behavioral and economic growth and advancement for individuals struggling to build a better way of life.

Arsola’s Distribution Center and Community Services (ADCCS) began with my desire to help, to solve a problem, to feed the hungry. I saw people in my neighborhood going hungry and I knew I had to do something. I put together some food bags and gave them to neighbors. Soon those few bags grew to bags for 25 families each week. I didn’t know what it would grow into. In two and half years my desire to feed the hungry has become an award-winning nonprofit organization. Twenty-five bags per week has grown to a four-part program – a weekly drop-in food giveaways at four sites. A once per week food distribution to faith and nonprofit organizations that pick-up food from our distribution center and re-distributes it to the housing insecure living on the streets and to very low-income persons in deep east Oakland. Once per month 125 homebound persons receive a food box delivered to their home. An emergency food pantry serves people needing food.
In 2013, we found a permanent space to operate. Since then our food distribution program has grown to feeding over 2,500 people per week. We obtain food that would otherwise go to waste. The fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, dry goods, baked goods and household products that we are able to obtain and offer to the people of deep east Oakland accomplishes more than feeding the hungry: our partner stores are able to fulfill their requirement to reduce food waste. ADCCS and these stores work to reduce the amount of landfill and protect the environment from further damage.
Twenty years ago, I founded Arsola’s House, Inc., a 56-bed adult residential facility that houses physically, developmentally and mentally disabled, domestic abuse survivors, persons recovering from substances and alcoholic, veterans, seniors, the unsheltered, and the formerly incarcerated. I am proud to say Arsola’s House still operates today.
In 2019, after much thought and prayer, I decided to expand the organization. I hired an administrator to develop new programs and develop funds to sustain our organization. Through God’s perfect grace we have exceeded the organization expansion and that has meant we are able to serve more people. As we grow Arsola’s Distribution Center and Community Services is still just feeding and housing people. Our online presence — this website, Facebook and an e-newsletter – are some of the ways we will keep in touch with you.
I invite you to join me and the staff and volunteers of ADCCS in the revolution of people helping people. Volunteer. Donate.

Candi Thornton
Founder and Executive Director
Arsola’s Distribution Center and Community Services