The Giving Spirit: Over 3,500 Lives Improved in 2010
January 11, 2011 Leave a comment
The Giving Spirit is coming up on its twelfth year bringing immediate aid in the form of “survival kits” to homeless women, children, and men in Los Angeles. These kits include anything from fruit, water, and granola bars to diapers, toothpaste, toilet paper, soap and other basic necessities. The kits are directly distributed to people living on the street.
What makes The Giving Spirit special is that they are an all-volunteer organization that creates tangible results to the homeless problem in Los Angeles, while educating at the same time. The Giving Spirit has a large (and still growing) base of volunteers that knows how to use the tools they are given to improve the homeless condition.
Highlighting the Harsh Realities: A Testimonial From a Homeless Pregnant Woman
Cynthia Berry is pregnant and homeless and survives by selling incense on the Venice boardwalk. When she heard someone was giving away backpacks full of food and supplies, she was among the first to show up among The Giving Spirit Volunteers.
Ms. Berry claimed a backpack and a free bag lunch and sat down to eat in the shade. She said life on the streets can be hard for a woman, especially one struggling with morning sickness. Things have been better since she and her husband recently got an old RV to sleep in, she said, although police often rouse them from the local parking lots.
Her young friends, who also claimed backpacks, said they have tried to find work, but even minimum wage employers are looking for workers with more experience.
How can I volunteer with The Giving Spirit?
The Giving Spirit can be found on their website, their blog, or their Facebook page. You can also sign up to volunteer at events by going to their event page and signing up for volunteer shifts.
Want to donate? You can also donate online. Donations go directly to survival kits to relieve the homeless.
Do you have more questions? Visit The Giving Spirit contact page in order to contact them by email, by phone or on twitter.
