ANTIOCH, Calif. (KRON) -- Ricka Davis-Sheard is providing support and "radical hospitality" to people experiencing homelessness in the East Bay through her nonprofit, S.H.A.R.E. Community. Based in Antioch, the organization offers essential services ranging from mobile showers to medical care for th ose facing difficult circumstances. Founded five and a half years ago, S.H.A.R.E. Community provides clothing, food and charging stations in addition to hygiene facilities. The nonprofit has served more than 1,000 people and provided more than 8,500 showers, operating every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. More stories on Remarkable Women in the Bay Area Davis-Sheard's commitment to service began in her childhood, influenced by how her family supported those around them. Davis-Sheard, founder of S.H.A.R.E. Community, said she grew up believing communal care was the norm. "I thought that was how everyone was raised, I thought everyone would make extra sandwiches when they went to the park. I thought everyone just took care of the community around them," Davis-Sheard said. "We would have neighborhood kids come to our house and eat breakfast… my mom would make a little pot of oatmeal and stretch a long way." The mobile showers provided by the organization serve as more than just a place to get clean. Davis-Sheard described the service as a way to restore hope and dignity to her "guests," a term she uses for the people she serves. "It's not just a shower, it's a reminder they can trust, that they have hope, it's a reminder that they matter, there's a lot of possibilities that come along with people clean that we take for granted," Davis-Sheard said. She added that the experience provides "a reminder of dignity, the dignity that they inherently have because they're living and breathing." The work is deeply personal for Davis-Sheard, who said a close relative once experienced homelessness and described the feeling of being invisible to the public. "That was my breaking point for me," Davis-Sheard said. "She came to my house with tears in her eyes and said, "When you're unhoused, people don't even see you — it's like you're invisible… but you see me, right?"" Davis-Sheard noted that those living in local encampments are not strangers, but are "literally our neighbors" from the city of Antioch. Marion Shelby is currently unhoused and utilizes the services provided by S.H.A.R.E. Community while searching for an affordable home. He said there are many public misconceptions about what homelessness looks like. "Sometimes people say I don't look homeless, homeless does not discriminate, comes in many shapes and forms and colors, anything can happen in that that affects someone," Shelby said. He emphasized the importance of mutual support within the group, noting that they "take care of each other." Other guests, such as Lorraine O'Bannon, described the environment as having a family-like atmosphere where "ego is left at the door." O'Bannon expressed appreciation for the organization's leadership and the environment they have created. "Ricka, she just has such a beautiful, beautiful heart and all of the volunteers here are just great… its beyond words.. beyond words…" O'Bannon said. Davis-Sheard noted that some of the volunteers are individuals who are currently unhoused or have been in the past. The nonprofit also facilitates access to government and medical resources through on-site partnerships. Contra Costa Health Care for the Homeless provides medical and mental health services during operating hours. Additionally, the Employment and Human Services Department is present to help individuals sign up for Medi-Cal, food stamps and cash aid. Davis-Sheard emphasized that these interactions are rooted in mutual respect. "We believe in radical hospitality and we treat people with the upmost respect and kindness and we the same back from people," Davis-Sheard said. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KRON4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KRON4 staff before being published. ...read more read less