Our Story
Neighbors helping neighbors — since the day the Camp Fire changed everything.
From Paradise, For Paradise
Steve Main grew up in Paradise, California, before spending more than thirty years in the health club industry in Northern Nevada. In November 2018, the Camp Fire displaced over 50,000 people across the ridge — including Steve’s lifelong friends and family.
Watching his hometown face that uncertainty moved Steve to act. He founded Hometown Strong to get practical help — food, essential bill payments, clothing, and local gift cards — directly to the people rebuilding their lives.
Steve also founded Widow’s Mite, a sister organization supporting small businesses in Carson City, NV.
See Our Story
Watch how Hometown Strong turns community dollars into community care in Paradise.
Our Mission
We strengthen Paradise’s local businesses and families by turning community dollars into community care. Hometown Strong purchases goods and gift cards from local businesses, then gives them to families in financial uncertainty — so every act of help lands twice: once with the family who receives it, and once with the business that supplied it.
How We Get Help to You
Step 1 — We buy local
We purchase products and gift cards from local businesses in Paradise, CA.
Step 2 — We distribute with care
Our team hand-delivers goods — from restaurant gift cards to clothing from locally owned shops — to families in need.
Step 3 — We follow through
We monitor every step to make sure the help we give is the help people actually need.
Hometown Strong 