Programs & Services | Hilltops Ten Toes Down

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Shoe Donations & Family Crisis Relief

Our name says it plainly: ten toes down. Community shoe drives are a core of our work—collecting, sorting, and delivering footwear so neighbors can walk to school, job interviews, and everyday errands with dignity. When a paycheck gap turns into a shutoff notice, we also move fast with grocery cards, short-term utility bridges, and private financial counseling.

Schedule: Shoe drop-offs accepted by appointment Monday–Friday. Intake calls answered 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Pacific. Hot meal packages prepared every Tuesday for same-week distribution in Tacoma, WA.

Eligibility: Tacoma-area households needing footwear, food, or housing-related emergency support. Clean, gently used or new shoes in adult and youth sizes are welcome donation items.

Participation: Email to schedule a shoe drop-off or request intake. A volunteer coordinator confirms the most urgent need within two business days.

Request crisis intake

Boxes of donated shoes prepared for distribution

Adults participating in career and skills workshop

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Community Career & Skills Workshops

Losing a job is exhausting enough without navigating online applications alone. Our workshops cover digital basics, résumé rewrites, interview practice, and introductions to local employers who have asked us to refer ready candidates.

Schedule: Digital skills lab every Tuesday evening, 6:00–7:30 p.m. Résumé clinic on the first and third Saturday of each month, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Eligibility: Adults 18+ living in Pierce County who are unemployed, underemployed, or changing careers. Laptops are available on-site; no prior tech experience required.

Participation: Register by email with your preferred session date. Walk-ins are welcome when seats remain. Graduates can request a one-on-one employer referral conversation.

Register for a workshop

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Youth & Senior Care Outreach

Isolation hits differently at opposite ends of life. We run weekend outdoor mentoring for youth and scheduled nutrition and social visits for older neighbors living alone—steady rhythms that build trust over months, not minutes.

Schedule: Youth mentoring circles most Saturdays, 1:00–3:00 p.m. Senior wellness check-ins Wednesday afternoons by appointment. Quarterly community health fair booths with partner clinics.

Eligibility: Youth ages 10–17 with guardian permission; seniors 60+ living in Tacoma ZIP codes near Hilltop and the South End. Caregivers may request wellness visits on behalf of a loved one.

Participation: Complete a short intake form via our contact page. Mentors are background-checked volunteers. Seniors receive a call confirming the visit window before anyone arrives at the door.

Join youth or senior outreach

How to get support

Four clear steps. No maze of portals. A real person follows up.

1

Reach out

Email admin@hilltopstentoesdown.org or use our contact form. Tell us which program you need.

2

Brief intake

We confirm your ZIP code, household situation, and the most urgent need—usually within two business days.

3

Match & schedule

Program staff assign groceries, a workshop seat, or a mentorship slot based on capacity that week.

4

Follow-through

We check in after the first visit so the next step—job clinic, second meal week, or mentor match—stays clear.

Start intake now

Voices from the community

“After my hours got cut in January, the Tuesday meal packages and a utility bridge kept the lights on long enough for me to land a new shift. Nobody made me feel small about asking.”

Maya R. South Tacoma parent

“I thought résumé clinics were for college grads. The Saturday session helped me rewrite mine on a borrowed laptop, and I got two interviews the next week.”

Jamal T. Career workshop graduate

“My mom lives alone near 8th Street. The Wednesday check-in visits gave me peace of mind when I work nights—and she looks forward to the conversation.”

Elena S. Family caregiver

Practical help, scheduled with care