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Tom Provost has seen firsthand the needs of those living on the streets of Los Angeles and for the past seven years he has come to their aid with his 501(c)(3) charity organization Bags And Grace.

Each bag holds enough items to sustain an individual for four to five days.

His mission recently expanded with the devastating Los Angeles fires that have displaced thousands of people and even left some firefighters in need of immediate aid.

Provost, a Port Arthur native, dropped off bags at three fire stations where some of the firefighters hadn’t been home in almost seven days and many were out of supplies themselves, he said.

His organization, Bags And Grace, is accepting donations to aid those affected by the fires, the firefighters and the homeless individuals that are part of his regular deliveries. 

The Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, who has lived in California a number of years, said the idea for the nonprofit began during long commutes — he was looking for a shorter route. As he passed through parts of LA, he began to see the homeless population and recognize their needs. It began with handing out small bags of food and water. At some point he figured out what people needed.

Each bag costs about $35.

“The main mission is giving bags of food, water, sundries, socks to people living on the streets,” Provost said, adding that the homeless population is exploding. “There are a lot of very good privately owned charities in Southern California that help the homeless but most of the homeless have to find a way to them and that could be miles away. We bring bags to people on the street.”

Provost and others fill the bags then go to the streets and distribute them.

“Now, with the fires we are shifting to not only the homeless but people who have been displaced and firefighters,” he said. “Some have no water. It’s helpful to bring them bags so they can have food and water, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, Chapstick, sundries they have run out of.”

 Provost said his SUV can hold 100 to 150 bags and when it’s time to distribute the bags it’s not difficult to find people living on the street. 

One example of help the organization has given is that of an older man whose reading glasses were broken. Provost was able to get the man’s prescription to Amazon in less than 24 hours and bring the man the glasses he needed.

Provost shared that there are also bags specifically for women that include panties and feminine products.

The outreach has had an enormous impact on Provost’s life. He noted the name “Bags And Grace” as opposed to “Bags Of Grace” because “grace goes both ways.

“I think it’s a bigger benefit to me,” he said. “It’s certainly changed my entire perspective on life and what it means to have enough.”

He spoke of going up to someone living in a tent. He brings the bag with food and water and necessities but the person tells him they have enough for today and to give it to the next person. 

Life and being thankful are what’s important as opposed to “I need more, I need more money, I need a bigger house.”

Four years ago Provost lost his house in a fire (not related to the wildfires) and he was displaced. 

“I was at Target the next day buying boxers and socks. It was hard but it was stuff (he lost). No one was hurt,” he said. 

The experience only solidified his desire to help others.

One thing Provost was adamant about when establishing the nonprofit was that 100 % of all donations go to the bags. He said he realized that with some charities only 60 cents on each dollar goes to the charity and the rest goes for administrative costs. 

“I pay the administrative costs,” he said. “If anybody gives, 100 % goes to the bags. They can have faith the money is spent for the purpose of the charity.

For more information on Bags And Grace, a 501(c)(3) charity go to bagsandgrace.com/donations

Donations can be made by Venmo, PayPal or Zelle. 

Tom Provost is a professor at Chapman University where he teaches directing and acting. He is also an editor, director and writer as well as founder of Bags And Grace.