Inside Our Volunteer Day at the Downtown Women’s Center: A hands-on look at the power of women supporting women

Last week, the Gifts for Good team spent the day at one of our most inspiring impact partners: the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) in Los Angeles. As a company, we take time each quarter to volunteer with the nonprofits we support—and this one left a lasting impression.

Our day began in DWC’s candle-making workshop, where we met Alex Pineda. She welcomed us with warmth, humor, and deep knowledge about the craft. What we didn’t expect was the personal story she shared—a story that had just aired on the Today Show the month before.

Alex came to Los Angeles chasing a dream. But when the pandemic hit, she found herself on the streets of Skid Row. “It’s tough,” she said. “I’m a veteran, so my military experience helped me get through it. The women down here… they’re tough. They taught me how to survive.”

Alex’s path led her to the Downtown Women’s Center, where she found stability, community, and purpose. With support from DWC, she received job training—including computer and financial literacy—and now leads others through their candle-making social enterprise. “They train you out of homelessness,” she told us. “People need to know that you care for them, that you believe in them, that you believe they can thrive.”

As we followed Alex’s guidance and poured wax into our candle vessels, it became clear how much care and intention she brought to the process. Every step reflected a deeper purpose: creating steady work, building skills, and supporting women as they rebuild confidence and overcome homelessness.

Later, we spent time helping in the donation sorting center. We organized clothing, home goods, and hygiene kits—essentials that are shared with women transitioning into housing or preparing for job interviews. These are small, behind-the-scenes tasks, but they support a big mission: providing women the dignity and support they need to take their next step.

One moment that stuck with us was something Alex said during the Today Show segment:

“Nobody wants to live on the street. Don’t knock the homeless—they’re survivors. They just need that one person who can reach them and get through to them.”

At Gifts for Good, we’re so proud to carry DWC’s handmade candles and soaps in our Gift Marketplace. Each one is crafted by women like Alex—women who’ve overcome incredible challenges and are now creating brighter futures for themselves and others. 

This Mother’s Day, we invite you to support women helping women.
Give Mother's Day gifts that feel good—and do good.

Watch the full Today Show report here: