Car slams into Oakland nonprofit 'Homies Empowerment'

OAKLAND, Calif. - A car slammed into a nonprofit in Oakland on Thursday – the second time a vehicle has wreaked havoc there.

In an Instagram post, the leaders at Homies Empowerment showed a photo of their damaged building at the corner of 77th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard.

They made a plea to Oakland leaders to "secure this corner," where they had planned to offer medical screenings next week.

"I'm really heartbroken and like very overwhelmed," said care center coordinator Viviana Montano. "It's just very difficult not to have a facility up and running."

It happened at 3 a.m. Thursday with a crash involving two cars. The circumstances were still not entirely clear. 

"Apparently a car had crashed into a different vehicle, and that sent that vehicle into the building but other than that we have nothing else," Montano said.

The driver of the car that plowed into the charity took off.

The mangled wreckage was removed by a tow truck.

No one was hurt, but there was major structural damage.

Each week, the group's Freedom Store hands out food to about 400 people or families. It also provides clothing, referrals to survivors of violence and help to find jobs and housing.

Montano says busy MacArthur Boulevard is notorious for speeders. Back in 2022, the same building was damaged in another car crash.

"There's so much speeding there, I fel like it's not monitored as well as it should be. I feel like nobody really respects the stop signs anymore," Montano said.

This group has had more than its share of challenges. 

Last year, its Freedom School at 90th and MacArthur was broken into, a month before the campus for at-risk youth opened for the first time. 

Montano says as far as its 77th Avenue location, they're committed to returning, with the community's help. 

"Our community has always shown up and shown out for us. So i do believe that this is just a small setback, for a bigger comeback," she said.

The group is asking for the public to help with donations. 

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan

Homies Empowerment was boarded up after a car slammed into it. March 14, 2024 

Homies Empowerment was boarded up after a car slammed into it. March 14, 2024