The Heart Drive Collective

We are a collective of real humans dedicated to serving the unhoused community of Oakland, California. We do this by fundraising online though art and music in order to provide hot meals, warm clothing, essential goods, haircuts, and more to those in need. Our volunteers prepare care packages including such items as: hygiene products, socks, tents, sleeping bags, feminine products, etc. we collect donations of clothing, sleeping bags, tents, and tarps, cook healthy, hot meals, and personally distribute them at various encampments throughout Oakland. During some drives, we offer haircuts as well and cook food in local parks. All of this with the intention of brightening people's lives and reminding them that they are loved and cared for.

Our mission as a grassroots collective is to remain "heart to heart". This means that we raise funds through our personal networks/communities and do not broadly advertise. Our food is handmade with love by our caring volunteers, and distributed directly where they are needed, "from our hearts to yours". Our intention is to make people feel seen and we feel that the best way to do so is coming to their doorstep and not asking them to come to us. We believe in making connections with those we serve.

Jesse Ray is a 10 year Oakland resident with a deep love for his community and the belief that small acts of kindness can change lives. 

Raised in Half Moon Bay, Jesse left home in his teen years to discover his individual potential. It was a rocky road to say the least and the story goes that he found himself at the end of his rope in San Diego. He had used the last of his change trying to call his grandmother on a payphone. When he couldn't get through, he defeatedly sat on the curb with his head in his hands and not a single hope for the future. Out of nowhere, without being asked, a stranger approached Jesse with a $10 bill. At a loss for words, Jesse thanked her and made change. He was able to buy a meal and get through to his grandmother who bought him a Greyhound ticket and got him off of the streets. 

In honor of that woman's kindness, Jesse has made it his personal mission to help others in the same way whenever possible. He and his dear friend and roommate at the time Tri Garcia founded the Heart Drive Collective in December of 2019.

Tri Garcia was a traveling tattoo artist, musician, chef, and spiritual healer.

In 2019 Tri was passing through Oakland and staying with Jesse Ray, his long term friend. During his stay, he and Jesse began spending a lot of their time experimenting in the kitchen and making meals for their friends and family. Tri had previously started a small tamale business in Arizona, making tamales and selling them to friends, family and strangers. He was doing the same thing in the Bay Area when Jesse had the idea to make twice as many as originally planned and distribute them on Christmas Eve. Being nomadic himself, Tri was all in. He got busy making masa and teaching a small group they had recruited how to roll tamales. He carried the brunt of most of the labor and was able to pop out over 300 tamales. 

He was instrumental in the entire process from making the tamales, purchasing essential goods, building care packages, to distribution. The Heart Drive was made possible by Tri's incredible work ethic, generous nature, dedication, and positive attitude. Tri kept us all laughing through the long days and nights. We lost Tri this year and will continue to honor him by keeping his legacy alive.