About the fund

For the past 31 years, The Chronicle’s Season of Sharing Fund has helped more than 100,000 Bay Area individuals and families facing unexpected life crises. The idea of neighbors helping neighbors was introduced to The Chronicle in 1986 by the late Walter A. Haas Jr. and Ira Hirschfield, president of the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund. Since then, the Season of Sharing Fund has distributed $120 million to help those living in the Bay Area.

Each year, the fund provides temporary assistance to about 4,500 families, allocating most of its grants for housing needs as well as paying for other critical necessities such as wheelchairs or essential furniture for families recovering from fires. Grants are paid directly to the suppliers of services, such as landlords. Individuals do not receive direct grants from the Season of Sharing Fund.

The fund, which also distributes more than $1 million each year to local food banks, relies on donations from readers. The money is distributed year-round.

Every penny of your donation goes to help those who need it most. All expenses are covered by the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund and The Chronicle. We are proud to say that since the fund’s inception, 100 percent of the money raised has gone directly to help the families and communities we serve.

For more information: www.seasonofsharing.org