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Hello! My name is Matt Fogarty, and I am the Founder and President of Cherry Willow Apparel. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses apparel as wearable advocacy to raise awareness about homelessness and inspire people to get involved in their communities.
In July, I rode a bike 715 miles across California, stopping in seven of the 14 U.S. cities with the highest homelessness rates. Those cities, in order of the route, were Sacramento (#14), Oakland (#8), San Francisco (#10), San Jose (#7), Los Angeles (#2), Santa Ana (#13), and San Diego (#6).
Along the way, we partnered with outstanding organizations including Saint John’s Program for Real Change, SLO Food Bank, Inspire 2 Together, Thread Haus, San Diego Hunger Coalition, Youth Empowerment SD, and UWEAST.
This is the first blog in a series spotlighting each of these partners. In the coming weeks, I’ll publish posts on their work, and soon we’ll release a full documentary featuring conversations with nonprofit leaders, people they serve, and individuals experiencing homelessness that we met on the trip. Fox 5 San Diego covered the ride here.
Day 0 – July 11: California, Here We Come
We woke up at 5 a.m. to head to the airport. We flew in and out of Los Angeles because it was the cheapest option and the pickup location for our RV and bike rental. After landing midday, we killed time at a nearby diner (which we thought was featured in Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs—turned out it wasn’t, but the food was still excellent) and visited a Beach Boys monument.
By evening, we had the RV and my rental bike. Though I’d never ridden this bike before, I brought my own pedals and cycling shoes, which helped. We hit the road for Sacramento, arriving at 2 a.m. after 23 hours of travel. Exhausted, we parked at Walmart and grabbed a few hours of rest before our 6 a.m. commitment at Saint John’s Program for Real Change.
Day 1 – July 12: Sacramento to Oakland
We started at Saint John’s, though an incorrect address made us 30 minutes late. Once there, we cooked, served meals, and spoke with staff and guests before I set out on a 100+ mile ride to Oakland. The send-off from the women, children, and staff was unforgettable.
On the road, I fueled with alternating water and electrolyte mixes. During a rest stop, we met Joseph, a man holding a sign asking for help. We shared food and water, then recorded an interview where he told a moving story of perseverance and faith.
Later, I climbed into the California mountains and battled freezing Bay winds in just shorts and dry-fit shirts. After 105 miles on little sleep, I collapsed into the RV bed in Oakland.
Day 2 – July 13: Oakland to Los Gatos
We began the day with family in San Francisco who treated us to breakfast and coffee. After biking around City Hall, where large encampments are usually visible, I headed south toward San Jose, passing by tech giants like Oracle, Meta, and LinkedIn.
In San Jose, I interviewed Ron, an artist selling work to raise $300 to keep his apartment. His gratitude despite hardship echoed many others’ stories.
That night, as I struggled through the Los Gatos mountains, my dad driving the RV encountered a car that drove off a cliff on a one-lane road. We called 911 and firefighters rescued the elderly driver just in time. By the time we resolved the crisis and freed the RV from a stuck driveway (thanks to a neighbor’s 2x4s), we ended the night in another Walmart parking lot. Total miles biked: 86.
Day 3 – July 14: Los Gatos to King City
This was the longest ride of the trip—111 miles—but also my favorite. A long downhill stretch through redwoods felt like magic. Population centers were few, so I didn’t meet nonprofits or interview people experiencing homelessness, but the solitude of the open road was unforgettable.
Day 4 – July 15: King City to San Luis Obispo
This day was scorching, with temperatures over 100°F. A wrong Google Maps route forced me to bike briefly on the interstate shoulder. Yet luck was on our side when we stumbled upon a mobile Food Bank post in Lake Nacimiento—only there once a month—where we arranged an interview for the following day. Miles biked: 100.
Day 5 – July 16: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara
We started with coffee and then a tour and interview at SLO Food Bank. Afterward, I biked through canyons and steep climbs before a terrifying downhill into Santa Barbara, where my rim brakes barely managed the curves. Miles biked: 95.
Day 6 – July 17: Santa Barbara to Los Angeles
This was a stunning coastal ride with fewer surprises until I got my first flat tire near LA. The spare tube didn’t fit, so I ended early. Still, reaching LA after 590 miles in six days felt incredible.
Day 7 – July 18: Los Angeles
My brother, our cameraman, fell ill, so I leaned on Cherry Willow’s Director of Impact, Shawna Edwards, and our documentary partner, Anya from Huemanite. I managed only 33 miles while coordinating interviews with Inspire 2 Together and Thread Haus. The day ended on a high note with a comedy fundraiser hosted by my cousin and her troupe, Ciao Comedy.
Day 8 – July 19: Los Angeles to San Diego
Another gorgeous coastal stretch, capped by interviews with the San Diego Hunger Coalition and Youth Empowerment SD. San Diego’s bike-friendly roads made this one of the most enjoyable days. Total miles biked: 42.
Day 9 – July 20: San Diego
On the final day, I biked through Encinitas, where I was interviewed by Wiley Jawhary for Fox 5 San Diego. I finished at UWEAST, celebrating with students who had just graduated high school. It was the perfect finale after nine days, more than 700 miles, and countless stories shared.
Final Thoughts
Homelessness in California isn’t just a statistic—it’s people, families, and communities. This ride showed me that while the problem is immense, local solutions are powerful. Whether through volunteering, donating, or advocacy, your action matters.
Thank you for following along on this journey, supporting Cherry Willow Apparel, and caring about solutions to homelessness. I hope my ride inspires you to take your own step toward the causes you believe in.
