At the Heart of Helping Update - Wear Your Costume and Join Us!

At the Heart of Helping - October 2020 Update

In This Issue:

Letter from the President/CEO | Spots Still Available for Connect

Grateful for Our Newest Grants | Filling Our Shelves

Thank You Donors | Thank You Grantors

Letter from the President/CEO
...At the Heart of Celebrating the Fall Season Together

While I usually adore decorating for the fall holidays, this year I haven't put anything up. There's a combination of reasons- the uncertainty of whether or not we will get any of the 200+ usual trick-or-treaters, the recent heat wave, and the shock that somehow Halloween is already next week!

If you find yourself in a similar mood- I have heart-warming news that will get us in the spirit. The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce 'Women in Business' program is hosting a Halloween themed food drive in our parking lot (1230 Cravens Ave, Torrance) next Thursday, October 29 from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. in support our Food For Kids program.

This is at the same time that we hold our weekly drive-thru with Pediatric Therapy Network to provide weekends meals for families they serve- so this week those children are in for an extra special treat!

We are so grateful for the timing of this event, as our shelves have been looking bare after we delivered more than 50,000 meals in response to COVID this summer!

You are all invited to join the festivities by dressing up in a hat, mask or full-blown costume and driving by to drop off non-perishable food items. You can find a list of what we need here. You may get a wave and a thank you from disguised local officials, board members, donors and supporters including our own Affinity Group volunteers!

Hope to safely see you next week-

Sara Myers
President/CEO

Spots Still Available for Connect- Apply by Oct 30!
...At the Heart of Helping Teens

There are still a few last spots available in our new Connect program.

Teens ages 13-18 will participate in interactive self-discovery using tangible and engaging activities to help them embrace their unique selves, and develop a sense of belonging rather than a constant need to fit in. They will leave the program with more self-esteem, resilience, empathy and a certificate of completion for college and job applications.

Macy Grim, M.S. LPCC, who will lead the five week program recently chatted with our President/CEO to explain a little more about what teens and parents can expect.

For more details or to apply by October 30 visit: www.volcenter.org/apply

Grateful for Our Newest Food For Kids Grants!
...At the Heart of Keeping Local Families Fed This Year

We are proud to announce two brand new $5,000 grants for our Food for Kids program from the Open Hearts Foundation and UST Global.

Both organizations have international reach and are dedicated to serving youth and ensuring that struggling families have enough to eat during this time. We have greatly enjoyed corresponding with the representatives of these two organizations and providing updates on the impact they are both making. We look forward to a continued partnership!

Thank you for being "at the heart of helping!"

Filling Our Shelves
...At the Heart of donating food for the fall rush!

Now that our regular fall program is back, every week we need approximately 1,200 - 1,500 pounds of food to meet the needs of our schools and partners! We've been so IMPRESSED with how our donors have stepped up to donate food and make sure we can continue to hit our weekly goal of feeding 100 families each week. Some of the recent deliveries have included:

Rachel King of Los Hermanos Royal Blue 2023 dropped off a donation of 184 pounds of food!

JoAnn Frisch, a friend of Food For Kids Volunteer Packer Sue Golden donated 54 pounds of food! We love when our volunteers encourage their friends and families to get involved!

Carson Lions Club along with the National Association University Women have donated over 85 pounds of food this last month.
Omega Healy was referred to us from our friends at Journey of Faith church, and brought over 60 pounds of food to the pantry.

Vice Board Chair Dianne Bozler along with her husband Hans donated over 200 pounds of food and packing bags!
High school students from Palos Verdes including Ryan and Mason Kramer and Lion's Heart collected 185 pounds of food, while students from H.O.P.E. at Peninsula High School donated more than 50 pounds of food this month! Rex Robins from the South Bay Food Initiative at Mira Costa High dropped off an additional 244 pounds of food! We are so encouraged to see the youth from all over the South Bay at the heart of helping!

Joan Day of the South Bay Jr. Woman's Club has helped organize multiple food donations from members totaling 457 pounds of food!
Hadassah Socal L'Dor V'Dor Chapter and Congregation Ner Tamid's Sisterhood and Tikkun Olam Committee organized another huge collection of 280

pounds of food! Huge Thank You to our packing volunteers Leslie Back and Sheila Millman for helping to organize this again with Margie Lunt and other members.

Sandpipers continue to support our pantry, this month dropping off over 230 pounds of food!

We are currently accepting much-needed food donations by appointment only to ensure everyone's safety. Click here to learn about our temporary donation procedures, download our non-perishable food Shopping List, find a link to our Amazon Wish List to have donations shipped directly to us, and more!

THANK YOU TO OUR TOP

INDIVIDUAL DONORS:

(Total combined gifts of $1,000 or more since July 1, 2020)

Anonymous (Multiple)	Pauline Beecroft	Denise and Vince Beggs
Dianne and Hans Bozler	The Hicks Family	The Holt Family
Heather Goyan	Betty and Ted Lieu	Paula Cox-Marshall
	Brenda and Vernon Williams

THANK YOU

CORPORATE & FOUNDATION GRANTORS:

(Gifts Made in Support of July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 Programs)

The Volunteer Center South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach

(310) 212-5009 | www.volcenter.org

Halloween Photo Created by rawpixel.com via FreePik

Child with Heart Photo Created by Cookie_Studio via FreePik

Recognizing the value of empathy and service to others, the Volunteer Center has been "at the heart of helping" for more than 55 years. Our mission is to increase social and emotional wellness in youth and families in our community and we measure this impact through a rise in empathy and resilience for those we serve. To learn more about our programs and history, visit www.volcenter.org.