During the holiday season, many of us want to look
beyond the dinners and gifts for opportunities to help
others that might have fallen on hard times. This year,
the need for food pantries and homeless shelters is
strong in our community.
Thank you for being part of what makes living in Downtown Los Angeles so great!
Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just
have the heart.
~Elizabeth Andrew
Volunteers are needed by food banks to help fill food
bags, directing recipients and more. At shelters and
missions volunteers are needed to serve meals, help
distribute needed items and clean up after meals.
Before blocking your calendar be sure to sign up, as
most require pre-registration. To help you find the best
match, here are five places where your time can make
a difference this Thanksgiving:
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, located at 1734
E. 41st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90058. Donations of
non-perishable food are needed year round but during
the holidays it takes on an even more urgent need.
Consider volunteering to distribute food and donate
food or money.
Fred Jordan Mission, located at 445 Towne Ave, Los
Angeles, CA 90013 will be serving their annual Thanksgiving meal on November 26th. Volunteers are needed
to help prepare and serve this very needed meal. You
can find all information on their site as well as the advanced registration link.
The Midnight Mission, located at 601 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 will be hosting their
annual Thanksgiving dinner called a Street Banquet in
the heart of skid row on Thanksgiving Day. The Mission
will be collecting toys in November and December for
holiday gift giving.
Los Angeles Mission, located at 303 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 will be serving over 4000 meals on
Thanksgiving. After dinner, the volunteers help distribute such needed items as a blanket, tarps and more.
To volunteer, be sure to register ahead of the event.
If you are not able to volunteer, consider making a donation. Every $2.03 you give will provide a hot Thanksgiving meal.
Socks 4 Souls volunteers will meet at the 7th Street Metro Center station at 8:30 AM as they head to skid row
to distribute socks, coats, blankets, and other common
winter necessities. Their philosophy is to partner with
volunteers, and along with conversations and smiles,
take donations directly to an area in Downtown Los
Angeles, Skid Row, that houses up to 11,000 homeless
individuals.
JULIANNE PEASE
[email protected]