Community Corner
Great Places to Volunteer This Season
Among lots of good causes, here are five that caught our attention.
Giving back to the community is always important, especially during the holiday season when those less fortunate than others are in need of food, clothing and toys. As more and more people hold on to their money because of the bad economy, why not help local groups in need by volunteering your time? You can help out at a soup kitchen, or help protect programs and social services for the LGBT community or spend some time volunteering at the teen center in West Hollywood. There are plenty of ways to give back during the holiday season, but these are the five groups that caught our attention.
Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition
For more than two decades the coalition has served fresh, hot and nutritious meals to people in need. Volunteers serve as many as 150 people each evening between 6:15 and 7:30 at the corner of Sycamore Avenue and Romaine Street. Volunteers can contact the coalition via its website or at 323-634-4908 or by e-mail.
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Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center
Pursuing its mission to "empower, heal, advocate and lead" the LGBT community from four distinct centers that offer an array of vital services and programs, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center relies on the critical help provided by its dedicated staff and volunteers.
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Volunteers can reach the center by calling 323-860-7302, or by e-mail.
The center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza is located at 1125 N. McCadden Place, LA, 90038.
SOVA Community Food and Resource Program
Dedicated to combating hunger and poverty through food distribution and a wide array of support services, the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles operates food pantries that serve all people. As more than 10,000 men, women and children turn to SOVA for help each month, the program relies heavily on volunteers to meet the challenge. Volunteers can reach SOVA by calling 323-761-8800 or through its website.
Dedicated to securing and protecting the rights of the LGBT community, Equality California has been working throughout the state since 1998, helping establish some of the most comprehensive civil rights in the nation. Volunteers in West Hollywood can contact Equality California's office at 8106 Santa Monica Blvd. or by calling 323-848-9801. Click here for Equality California's website.
Committed to providing teens with a healthy, safe and fun environment in the community, the teen center (run out of the community center at Plummer Park) offers lots of resources and interesting things to do, including video games, art projects and computer labs for homework. Interested volunteers can contact the center by calling 323-848-6532. The center is at 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. and it can be found online at its Facebook page under West Hollywood Teen Center.