Change for FiveHundred

Breaking Chains. Building Opportunity.

Founded in 2017, Change for FiveHundred serves youth and families in Richmond, North Richmond, West Contra Costa County, Oakland and surrounding Bay Area communities. Breaking Chains While Creating Change means connecting people with practical resources, encouragement and opportunities to move forward.

We bring neighbors, volunteers, schools, local businesses and community organizations together. Backpack and school-supply giveaways help families prepare for the school year. Holiday outreach connects children and teens with gifts and essentials. Our Roosevelt athletics project focuses on the spaces and equipment young people need for strength, wellness and team development.

How change happens: we identify a community need, coordinate with the people closest to it, seek donations and partners, and organize support to turn an idea into action. You can take part by donating useful items, volunteering your time, sponsoring a specific need or introducing a community partner.

Help Build Something That Lasts

Roosevelt Student-Athlete Strength & Wellness Center

Change for FiveHundred is supporting Roosevelt Middle School Athletics in Oakland through fundraising, sponsor outreach and resource development with Jason Brown, Athletic Director & Case Manager. The proposed Strength & Wellness Center project aims to improve the spaces student-athletes use to train, prepare and build healthy habits.

Why the project matters. Young athletes need equipment suited to their age, clear space to move, organized storage and training areas that support supervised use. Improvements to the weight room and gym can help coaches make better use of the space for strength development, team preparation and wellness activities.

What we are seeking. Priorities include youth-appropriate strength equipment; flooring and court repairs; paint and branding; electrical work; volleyball sleeves, standards, nets and padding; volleyball court markings; portable practice components; equipment storage; and sports-nutrition support.

How a partner can help. Donate or sponsor an equipment package, contribute individual components, offer materials or skilled installation support, or connect us with a vendor willing to help. Item suitability, room measurements, school coordination and required approvals guide what can be accepted and installed. This is a project in development; donations and partnerships will help move it forward.

Give a Child a Brighter Holiday

First Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway

Saturday, December 19, 2026 · 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Shields-Reid Community Center · North Richmond

In partnership with Shields-Reid Community Center, Change for FiveHundred is preparing a free holiday event for children and teens ages 0–17. Our goal is to serve up to 500 youth from North Richmond, Richmond, West Contra Costa County and surrounding communities. We are gathering gifts, useful essentials and community support to help families celebrate the season.

For families. Use the “Register for the Toy Giveaway” button above to complete the family registration form. The form includes school information and how you learned about the event, helping us understand the families and outreach channels we are reaching. Registration supports planning; gifts depend on available donations, inventory and event capacity.

For donors. We are seeking new, unwrapped toys, teen gifts, gift cards, books, sports items, clothing and jackets. Teen gifts are an important part of the drive. Businesses and community groups can organize a collection, sponsor items or help provide donation boxes and printed collection materials. Contact us before arranging a drop-off or collection location so we can coordinate details.

For volunteers and resource partners. Help with preparation, sorting donations, event setup and family support, or discuss a community-resource table. Plans include an indoor toy giveaway and outdoor resource tables. Contact Marcus to coordinate your role and participation.

Ready to help? Email changeforfivehundred@gmail.com or call 209-998-0872 to discuss donations, volunteering, sponsorship or partnership.