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Become a Holiday Meal Drive 2026 Sponsor - November 21

EOBA Annual Holiday Meal Drive

Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 10 AM–4 PM

East Oakland Boxing Association

816

98th Avenue | Oakland

Each year, our Holiday Meal Drive grows because the need keeps growing.

Last year, we served more than 900 families. This year, our goal is to serve 1,400 families with a complete Thanksgiving meal, including a turkey, fresh produce, and holiday sides.

We see the need every Wednesday at our weekly food distribution. Think about what grocery shopping costs today. Even families with steady jobs and decent incomes can walk out of the store after spending 100 dollars with only a few bags of groceries. For a family living on a low income, those same prices can force impossible choices.

That is why our families come to EOBA.

This holiday season, we are inviting our newsletter community to stand with us.

You can help sponsor Thanksgiving meals for East Oakland families.

Every 75 dollars helps provide a complete holiday meal for a family of four.

You can also support the Holiday Meal Drive by volunteering, sponsoring, donating goods, or joining us on November 21.

Every contribution helps us move closer to our goal of serving 1,400 families this year.

We would love to have you stand beside us.

Look Who's All Grown Up! Our Very Own Jaslene Hernandez!

Some kids come through EOBA, complete their internship, and move on. Others come through, make themselves right at home, and before you know it, we're putting them on payroll!

Meet Jaslene Hernandez, one of our very own EOBA success stories and the latest reason I'm walking around here acting like a proud mama.

Jaslene first came to us as a sophomore intern from Arise High School. She quickly decided EOBA was her kind of place, and apparently, we passed her inspection because she came back the following summer through Youth Employment Partnership (YEP).

And that's when things got interesting!

Jaslene wasn't just here collecting hours and counting down until quitting time. She was learning, taking initiative, and becoming someone we genuinely depended on. She did such an incredible job that we eventually said, "Well, shoot, we might as well hire her!" And that's exactly what we did, working around her school schedule so she could keep earning while continuing her education.

Fast forward, and would you look at Miss Jaslene now!

She's attending San Francisco State University with plans to pursue a career in the medical field. I look at her now, all grown up and looking every bit the college student, and wonder when exactly that happened. Wasn't she just a goofy, giggling sophomore walking through our doors yesterday?

And apparently, college wasn't enough to keep her busy because Miss Entrepreneur has also launched her very own nail art business! Between classes, career plans, and running a business, Jaslene has a full schedule. Meanwhile, I'm over here trying to figure out when she found time to become a whole adult!

Our partnerships with Arise High School, YEP, and other community organizations make stories like Jaslene's possible by connecting young people to meaningful internships, paid employment, mentorship, and career opportunities.

At EOBA, we love watching our young people grow, even if they insist on doing it so quickly that the rest of us can barely keep up!

So here's to Jaslene Hernandez, college student, future medical professional, nail artist, entrepreneur, and proud member of the EOBA family.

Keep doing your thing, Jaslene! We're proud of you.

And when you open your medical practice, just remember that EOBA staff were some of your earliest supporters. We're not asking for much, just priority appointments and perhaps a little employee discount!



Now somebody tell me where the time went!

Steve Granados and Titan Safety Services. We See You.

Some people walk into EOBA, look around, and see a boxing gym. Steve Granados walked in and saw himself.

During his first visit, Steve shared that he wished a place like EOBA had been available when he was growing up. A safe place, caring adults, structure, discipline, and something positive to belong to might have helped steer him away from some of the trouble waiting ahead.

Steve’s road was not easy, but he bounced back in a major way. A mentor took the time to show him the ropes, and Steve turned those lessons into a successful business. Today, as the owner of Titan Safety Services, he is paying that investment forward.

Titan provides critical fire protection services, including fire extinguisher inspections and maintenance, emergency lighting, training, equipment rentals, and other services that help businesses stay safe and compliant. Their work comes with something that can be hard to find these days, excellent customer service.

When EOBA needed help, Titan technician Sean came out the same day and handled everything. He was professional, thorough, helpful, and a true reflection of the company Steve has built.

What touches us most is Steve’s generosity. Small business owners work hard for every dollar, and they do not always have large corporate budgets to give from. Steve gave because he saw himself in our young people. He saw inner city kids working to make good choices, searching for guidance, and needing a safe place where they can learn, grow, and stay out of trouble.

Steve, we want you to know that we see you.

We see the road you traveled. We see the business you built. We see the mentor who poured into you, and we see how you are now pouring into the next generation. Most of all, we see your heart.

EOBA truly adores and appreciates you, Steve. We appreciate Sean, and we appreciate the entire Titan Safety Services team. Your support is about much more than fire extinguishers and inspections. You are helping protect a place that protects young people.

That makes Titan Safety Services family.

Thank you for believing in EOBA. Thank you for showing our youth what bouncing back looks like.

Thank you for proving that a small business can make a very big difference.

Rise East 40x40 kickoff

Friday night at EOBA, we officially kicked off the Rise East 40x40 Learn and Grow Youth Navigation and Exposure Tours initiative.

Ben Wanzo of ESO Plus showed how our young people will help shape the Youth Navigation App from the ground up.

Gregory Collins and Jalil Butron of YouthBeat shared how youth will lead social media, podcasting, storytelling, video, and community outreach to help spread the word throughout the 40x40.

EOBA also gave everyone a look at how the Youth Loop Exposure Tours will connect young people directly to programs, careers, resources, organizations, and new experiences in their own community.

Our young people are helping build it, test it, tell the story, and lead it.

The community came out, the energy was strong, and Learn and Grow Youth Navigation and Exposure Tours initiative is kicking off with a bang.



This is only the beginning

Ever wanted to learn how to box, but the cost got in the way? Pull up to the EOBA Teen Boxing Lab.

Girls and boys are welcome. Learn real boxing skills, get stronger, build confidence, join the EOBA boxing team, and travel to tournaments. No experience? No gloves? No problem. We have gloves you can borrow, or you can buy your own when you are ready.

Come train, meet other Oakland teens, and be part of a team in a safe space where you can be yourself.

Free for Oakland teens.

Monday through Friday, 3 PM to 8 PM.



Your corner is waiting.