Welcome!
Tools to Empower
I’m Ria Lewis, founder of Tools to Empower. I created this initiative to give people a second chance through practical tools and real-world skills.
If you’ve fallen on hard times, Tools to Empower equips you with a starter kit, available through partner community centers, libraries and places of worship with the training to use it, so you can start earning income immediately.
Our mission is simple: empower individuals facing disadvantage by providing resources, opportunities, and support to achieve self-sufficiency while strengthening community well-being.
Take Action
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Interested in becoming a partner site?
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Become a Tools Ambassador
Together, we can turn tools into opportunities and opportunities into lasting change.
Tools to Empower: Spring Cleanup Initiative
Build. Earn. Empower.
This spring, we’re providing FREE community yard tools (like leaf blowers, trimmers, and lawnmowers) through partner churches, libraries, and community hubs — so individuals facing unemployment or hardship can take on simple outdoor jobs and start earning income quickly.
We are currently equipping the first 5 partner sites that respond.
Our mission is simple: empower individuals facing disadvantage by providing resources, opportunities, and support to achieve self-sufficiency while strengthening community well-being.
Why Spring?
Spring is when outdoor needs increase everywhere — and when small jobs become available:
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Leaf clearing and yard cleanup
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Lawn mowing
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Edging and trimming
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Church grounds cleanup
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Garden bed prep
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Sidewalk and entryway cleanup
These jobs are realistic, local, and immediately income-generating.
Who This Helps:
This program supports individuals who may be:
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Unemployed or underemployed
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Experiencing housing insecurity
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Rebuilding after financial hardship
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New immigrants or young adults without job networks
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Formerly incarcerated individuals seeking a fresh start
How It Works:
Partner Sites (churches, libraries, community centers, nonprofits) agree to:
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Host a tool on-site as a simple borrowing library
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Connect people to paid work by sharing the opportunity with the community
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Support dignity-based income through small micro-jobs
The tool stays at your site, and you decide where it is stored and who checks it out.
Each toolkit includes:
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The equipment
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Safety gear
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Simple instructions and training resources
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A job checklist for spring tasks