Stacy DeWitt speaks with George Alger about the nonprofit, James Storehouse.
In Southern California, thousands of children navigate the foster care system or face the immediate threat of entering it. For many families, an unexpected crisis—such as losing a job, struggling to afford basic necessities like baby formula, or lacking stable housing—can turn a temporary setback into a life-altering separation.
To combat this crisis, the grassroots non-profit James Storehouse steps in to provide essential support, resource distribution, and long-term stability for vulnerable children and families.
A Mission Rooted in Prevention and Care
Founded in 2012, James Storehouse was created to care for children in foster care, youth aging out of the system, caregivers, and youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation.
While providing for children already in state care remains vital, executive director Stacy DeWitt highlights a crucial shift in their focus: roughly half of the organization’s efforts now go toward prevention.
In partnership with Ventura County and Los Angeles County—an area that has historically faced one of the largest foster care crises in the country—James Storehouse works upstream to strengthen at-risk families before children enter child welfare.
By offering short-term financial aid, essential household items (such as beds, cribs, and refrigerators), and supportive transitional housing, the organization works to disrupt generational cycles of poverty, abuse, and neglect.
Transforming Lives: The “Road to Resilience”
Through referrals from county social workers, James Storehouse delivers personalized wraparound care tailored to each family’s unique situation.
One recent success story stems from their new Road to Resilience program. A young mother was on the verge of losing her infant to the foster care system. While county programs like WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) offer essential assistance, safety-net food benefits don’t always stretch far enough to cover a full month’s worth of baby formula. Without extra support, struggling parents are often forced to make desperate choices.
When social workers reached out, James Storehouse stepped in. The team supplied essential baby formula, assisted with job placement and housing, and helped the mother achieve financial and personal stability. The young mom maintain sobriety, earned her driver’s license back, and stabilized her home environment—and the nonprofit surprising her with a reliable car to ensure safe transit to work and daycare.
How the Name “James Storehouse” Reflects Their Work
The organization derives its name from a favorite biblical passage in the Book of James, which emphasizes caring for vulnerable populations such as orphans and widows—modern-day parallels to children in state care without traditional family support systems.
The “storehouse” portion refers to their physical warehouse, which stores donated supplies—from clothing and diapers to furniture and household appliances—ready to be distributed free of charge to families in need.
How the Community Can Get Involved
Operating with a small core staff and hundreds of dedicated volunteers, James Storehouse relies heavily on local community support. There are several direct ways to support their mission:
Schedule a Tour: Visit their facility for an hour-long tour to learn about their holistic impact across local counties.
Amazon Wish List: Order essential items online from their curated list, shipped directly to the storehouse.
Volunteer On-Site or Remotely: Assist families as they shop in the warehouse, organize inventory, assist with childcare during shopping hours, or support administrative tasks from home.
TV broadcast week beginning 09/20/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com