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Oakland "Toy Giving Back" event with teen & adult volunteers working on getting their lives back on track
An Oakland nonprofit works with youth and adult offenders to help them turn their lives around. They are volunteering for the groups first toy giveaway this Saturday, a way of giving back to the community they harmed. They shared their stories with KTVU.
OAKLAND, Calif. -
An Oakland nonprofit helping at-risk youth and adult offenders turn their lives around, is preparing to host its first toy giveaway this weekend.
The volunteers said being part of the nonprofit, Lulu's House, is life-changing.
The teens and the adult men said they want to do something to help the community after the harm they've caused.
They say giving back is part of doing what's right.
On Wednesday afternoon, the group of volunteers included three boys, ages 14 to 16.
They were setting up a warehouse in East Oakland for the giveaway.
But more importantly, they are giving a gift to themselves, by getting back on track.
"I used to steal people's cars," King McClendon said. "I used to bip. I used to go into people's stores. Do anything to get some money."
The 16-year-old said he started robbing people and stealing a few years ago.
A person he considered to be a brother told him how to make easy money.
But after his fifth time in juvenile hall, and with the help of Lulu's House, which helps the formerly incarcerated, King said he realized this isn't the life he wants.
"If I kept doing that, I would have been in jail, probably dead," he said.
Zirl Wilson, co-founder of Lulu's House, said he confronted King and seven other boys at a store as they were running out after stealing items.
Wilson found out where they lived and started talking to them about the consequences of their actions and doing what was right.
Wilson said he sees himself in these young offenders, because he too was "misguided and misdirected at that age."
The 58-year-old was formerly incarcerated himself.
He said he turned his life around 20 years ago and started a nonprofit to help people whose shoes he walked in.
In January 2023, he was among five people shot at a gas station convenience store.
One man died.
Wilson was shot four times.
"I was an innocent bystander, so now I know how it feels to be on either side, the giver and the taker. I feel better by giving," said Wilson.
He's giving back by helping men such as 67-year-old Lee Green.
He was released from San Quentin a year ago after serving time for manslaughter.
"This is what it's about: giving away and back to the community, beautiful," said Green.
The nonprofit's co-founder, Tracy Lambert, showed KTVU the transitional housing located in East Oakland that is offered to the adult men they serve, along with wraparound services, which includes helping them find jobs.
Back at the warehouse, the toy giveaway is a pathway to change for the volunteers while they help families in need.
"Hang around people who want to see you do good," said King.
The toy giveback to the community is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday. The warehouse is located at 725 Louisiana Street in Oakland. It's first come, first served.
Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU