Join us this Saturday March 13th!

How many homeless are on Skid Row? We find this out not by a complicated math equation, we actually count! It’s funny that way. The first step of this happens this weekend!

We’re starting by canvassing the streets of downtown, meeting homeless people, giving them information on where they can go to get counted in the coming weeks. This is crucial because of all the stigma these precious people have towards the authorities. We get to calm their fears and help them get a voice. If we don’t prove the need, we don’t get the financial support to help even more people get off the street and live the lives they deserve.

Come if you care about homeless people, come if you like to meet new people, come if you have just a couple hours to spare on a Saturday, come if you want a new adventure!

• This Saturday, March 13th
• Meet at Union Rescue Mission  (545 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90013)
  
• Free Parking! (please bring a friend and carpool)
• Start time is 7:45, free coffee!
• We’ll do a brief orientation, then send you out in groups for safety

Visit Mosaic at the Mayan  night Club tonight at 7pm in Downtown Los Angeles.

Going Up!

 

We are hoping to fill our March volunteer slots.

 Build Dates and Date Project Locations

 
March 6 – Saturday ALL DAY 8AM- 3:30 PM  

Now taking Registration

 Brush of Kindness- We help a family whose home is in need of painting or repair.

Store Volunteers- volunteers will work at the habitat store to help with organization and sales.

The Home and the store are in the Los Angeles area.  You will be given specific details as they become available.

March 10 – Wednesday ALL DAY 8AM- 3:30 PM

Register Now!

Construction at the Lynwood house.

Address: 4237 Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262

April 3 – Saturday

Registration Begins March 22  Register here

Brush of Kindness- We help a family whose home is in need of painting or repair.

Store Volunteers- volunteers will work at the habitat store to help with organization and sales.

April 14 – Wednesday

Registration Begins March 22  Register Here

Construction at the Lynwood house.

Address: 4237 Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262

Hey all – check out the amazing photos taken by Rachel Soto at the Adopt a Meal last night! We had so much fun – there were 20 volunteers and together we made the following:

Grilled Chicken, Cuban Sweet Potatoes, Black eyed Peas, Steamed Asparagus with garlic, pineapple upside down cake and sweet tea. If you didn’t come – you missed out on a terrific service experience and some amazing food.

However, I am excited to report that Forge Ministry will be taking on an additional night each month – so our volunteers will have two nights a month to choose from to come cook and serve at Union Station. More details to come!

Here is the link to the entire photo album on facebook

women of Hope Gardens

Raven + Lily’s volunteer design team is running a job training program
at Hope Gardens, teaching women how to make jewelry, sew, and design.
The women in transition at Hope Gardens have made some amazing jewelry
& accessories out of donated remnants from the LA garment industry
while at the same time are learning new skills and also are able to
save money through a stipend program which they will benefit from when
they leave Hope Gardens.

Volunteer Opportunities:

1. Designers/Mentors needed to help teach jewelry making, sewing, and design at Hope Gardens.  If you have skills anywhere from basic to advanced, we are trying to pair up mentors with the women at Hope Gardens to help guide them in the process of learning new skills & making items that are being sold through Raven + Lily.  We need people who can commit to going to Hope Gardens on a week day, once a week, for at least 2 hours.  Location is at Hope Gardens in Sylmar.

Other local volunteer opportunities:

• *Host a trunk show selling Raven + Lily’s fair trade, handmade goods
• *Graphic Design
• *Web Design
• *Marketing/PR
• *Photography
• *Video/Editing
• *Writing
• *Fundraising/Grant writing
• *Attend a monthly volunteer party where we gather to cut, sew, chat, and have a great time!

For more info or to purchase hand made items created by women in need, check out our website:
www.ravenandlily.com

Alan's Turtle

I will just start saying that God is so good and works in such incredible ways! It is just so beautiful to see the ways that He works with our uniquely made minds and allows stages of growth that prepare us for the next consecutive life situation. The story with Yolanda is really a pure expression of God’s timing!

I JUST SO HAPPENED to have a morning off from Education Spectrum where I work with autistic kids dealing with social skills amongst the kids, So whenever I get the chance, I love to go to Danny’s Farm! Danny’s Farm was the first place I was introduced to the lovely atmosphere where I am able to be submerged with the beautiful minds and kind hearts of autism along with the beautiful animals of the farm (mini donkeys, hamster, guinea pigs, pig, goats, kittens, bunnies, chickens, and roosters).  I have worked there for about six months, so they keep me updated on the days that they have camp scheduled where they will have kids there and need help, and that was one of the days they could have used the help. I helped quickly sketch on huge butcher paper for the kids to work together coloring, and as I was leaving early because I had to go to work at Education Spectrum, Yolanda had just arrived at Danny’s Farm for a quick visit! I was so excited to see her there even though I did not really know her very well nor did I know what she did.  From there I had to leave, so I really only had enough time to say, “hi, it is so nice to see you were able to make it to visit Danny’s Farm!” Then I had to leave to go to work…

Later on in the day, I get a call from Lisa Housman (the executive director at Danny’s Farm), saying that Yolanda had seen my quick sketch on the butcher paper before she headed out and wanted to know if I could do an art job that she has been looking to get done for her short songs that she has for her kindergarten classes… I didn’t know that she was a kindergarten school teacher, but at this point i found out. Though I am out of practice when it comes to the art gift that God has given me, I know that God has really been somewhat encouraging me to continue to learn and grow in my mind and artistic mind-frame… Growing up I loved to do art, but it was only for what i thought would be cool, and I could never see how God could use the creativity in drawings/paintings or any other art to bless others… But now I am starting to see how God can use my art to bless people in little ways!

I also painted a turtle for alan and dea… Alan is a client who has a combination of Multiple Sclerosis and CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) I do stretches on before he goes to sleep every night, and I don’t know why, but I remember hearing him say that he loves turtles. I have done water colors once in my life before, and really have virtually no experience doing water colors, but I wanted to try to paint Alan & Dea a turtle just for fun… I feel like God wanted me to because He just does random things like that to my heart. It took about 4 days to finish because I had other things going on during the days, but it was finally finished, and they framed it in a clear frame. They say it is beautiful, and Alan says it brings his blood pressure down as he talks to it, and examines and discovers new details in every part of the simple painting everyday.

I’m really excited just to see how God is using my art in such random but beautiful ways, and I am just so excited to see what’s next in God’s plans for the gifts He has blessed me with.

Anthony is also in the process of creating a line of original artwork shirts which will be silkscreened by another local non-profit, then sold to promote and benefit organ donation causes. The shirt line will be called Amor Absolutus which means unconditional love. That is another story that is long, but we will keep you posted on what is happening and when they will be available to buy online or in person. We are so grateful to have Anthony as part of the serveLA community!

Please share your service stories! Email us

If you haven’t already had the opportunity, we would love to invite you to incorporate a bit of service to the community into your regular monthly schedule starting on the first Tuesday of each month.

Adopt a Meal is one great, simple step in that direction and a fun way to serve. You simply do the following:

• RSVP via email to ali that you plan to attend
• bring a $10 donation per person, to help cover the cost of the food we purchase and cook together
• show up at the Adult Center on January 5th
• cook, eat and visit with our homeless friends at Union Station in Pasadena

If you are a musician, stand up comedian or artist of any kind who would like to come share your art with the community at this event, please bring your acoustic instrument and a willing heart and share with the group for 30 mins to an hour. This group LOVES music, comedy, art and culture and would welcome your participation / performance.

We have limited space available – only the first 20 people who RSVP will be able to attend.

When: Tues, March 2nd

Time: 6pm – 9pm

Where: Adult Center 412 S. Raymond Ave, Pasadena 91105

MENU: Spaghetti with homemade meatballs, garlic bread, broccoli with garlic and dessert

I hope to see you there at Adopt a Meal this month or at another coming service opportunity in Pasadena!

There are so many ways you can plug into the community and make a positive impact on someone’s life. Come learn how!

WHO: 8 volunteers needed for each night

WHAT: Movie night for the clients at Covenant House.

• assist with setting up, making popcorn, having conversations, and tear down after the movie.

WHEN: Wednesday Nights March 10th and March 17th from 7pm -9pm

WHERE: Covenant House at 1325 N. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA

To get involved email Kyle O’Neal for more information

WHO: 10-15 volunteers requested for client recruitment and laundry assistance

WHAT: Laundry of Love – we bless the homeless community of downtown Los Angeles by doing their laundry at a laundromat.

WHEN: Saturday March 6th from 7am to 12pm

WHERE: Village Laundry at 526 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles CA.

Please email Julie Morris for more information.

WHO: 10 Volunteers for each of 2 sites

WHAT: Project Homeless Connect Volunteer Opportunities

• Intake – helping clients fill out a questionnaire for tracking and fituring out future needs
• Host – escorting clients around to the different social services booths; knowing what services are available for the specific client you are assisting.

WHEN: Wed February 24th, 2010 from 5:30pm to 9:00pm (you can arrive a few minutes late if you are coming from work)

LOCATIONS:

1. Culver City Armory 10808 Culver Blvd. Culver City CA
2. West Los Angeles Armory 1300 Federal |Ave Los Angeles, CA

Please contact Evan Stookey via email and indicate where you would like to serve! We will see you Wednesday!