by Julia Rajkovic | Oct 19, 2020 | Coming Up, General, News
Los Angeles, CA. The Los Angeles Humanitarian Initiative (LAHI) is a fairly new non-profit that was founded in response to COVID-19 in hopes of providing relief to at-risk populations in Los Angeles. Since COVID-19 started LAHI has worked hard to distribute resources to LA’s homeless population and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to frontline workers. “In some way, I’d like to think of LAHI as a product of my upbringing; my parents are the most loving and caring people I know and have inspired me to love and care for my community the same way they always have, especially during hard times like these,” says President and Founder Sandro Samaha.
LAHI has two main operations; Community Outreach and Healthcare. By partnering with homeless shelters and free clinics in Los Angeles, LAHI successfully caters to the needs of both of these sectors. Pictured below is the work of their Healthcare sector volunteers donating medical supplies to a local hospital.
LAHI volunteers donate 7,000 surgical masks to Centinela Hospital
Vice President Dana Aboukahlil explained, “Though LAHI began as an initiative to provide relief to those who have been most affected by the pandemic, we have since widened our mission. Since our foundation, we have not only provided PPE all across Los Angeles county, but we have also raised funds for further matters important to our members, such as the Beirut explosion, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and most recently the conflict in Armenia.”
On October 18th, LAHI partnered with the owner of Mindful Bodies Fitness to host a virtual fundraiser. The fundraiser was a workout class held over Zoom. Speaking on behalf of LAHI, Operations Director Kian Heiat shares, “We are extremely excited about this partnership and happy to provide the public with a way to give back to the community in a fun and healthy manner!”. All proceeds will be donated to Venice Family Clinic and Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic which are local free clinics that offer comprehensive medical services to those who may otherwise go without them. Heiat says that LAHI will also be hosting a virtual yoga class the following Sunday for those who cannot attend and would still like to donate and participate.
LAHI volunteers selling custom face masks and collecting non-perishable food donations outside of local Ralph’s
Another way LAHI raises money aside from fundraising and collecting donations is by selling custom LAHI face masks that can be purchased during a pop-up sale or through their website. All the money raised from these sales goes directly to local clinics, shelters, and hospitals.
“Being in LAHI has been extremely gratifying. Through this experience, I have become more familiar with the issues that are relevant to today’s society and have opened my eyes to the importance and power of helping others,” Aboukahlil reflects. LAHI is hoping to reach their goal of $60,000 in donations raised after this Sunday.
If you would like to make a donation to LAHI click here: https://losangeleshi.org/donate/
From Los Angeles Humanitarian Initiative:
Los Angeles Humanitarian Initiative (LAHI) is a community led non-profit organization that bridges the gap between donors and suppliers to support those in need of disaster relief. Inspired by the heroic actions of frontline workers, LAHI seeks to alleviate the pains of at-risk groups in the Greater Los Angeles Area affected by COVID-19.
by Shelbrena Payne | Oct 14, 2020 | Feature, General, News
Los Angeles, CA. Saffyre Sanctuary is a horse rescue and rehabilitation program which cares for horses that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. Today it’s facing challenges on every front. Volunteers and donations have declined, but the cost of operating Saffyre Sanctuary remains the same. It’s one of the many organizations that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard. Esta Bernstein Founder and C.E.O of Saffyre Sanctuary, explains, “It has been very challenging. Our donations have decreased by approximately 75% and with the quarantine restrictions set in place we have not been able to bring in volunteers we need.” The sanctuary saw a dramatic decline in weekly volunteers from 12 down to approximately 2-3 volunteers a week.
Esta Bernstein continues to work to keep the doors of the sanctuary open during the global pandemic. Saffyre Sanctuary was recently granted a U.S Small Business Loan, offered to nonprofits for sustainability purposes during the pandemic. The organization’s outdoor facility has provided Saffyre Sanctuary with an opportunity to partner with the City of Los Angeles Departments Rehabilitation Program. “The City of Los Angeles partners with another organization that pays students who recently graduated minimum wage to volunteer at the sanctuary.” This is a great volunteer opportunity for both the recent graduates to gain valuable work experience and the organization to continue operations.
Further positive developments that have emerged during the pandemic include increasing sanctuary locations. Esta Bernstein is in discussions with property owners looking to help the organization expand their mission by providing remote satellite locations for the rescued horses. She is hoping to have negotiations finalized this year. Expansion comes at a cost, the average monthly expense for one horse not excluding veterinary, chiropractic, supplements and dietary feed is $850.00 a month. Saffyre Sanctuary offers a Virtual Forster Care Program that allows individuals to sponsor a horse rescue. “Taking in horses won’t do any good if they don’t have money to feed them. We must develop a new foothold in the community,” said Esta Bernstein.
Foster Care Program: Lakota (which means friend) is a 15 year old Thoroughbred Gelding. Blind in one eye, he has been living at Saffyre Sanctuary since July 15th, 2012. Photo by Esta Bernstein.
Horse rehabilitation and healing of the soul is what the founder of Saffyre Sanctuary, Esta Bernstein is all about. One of the programs that Saffye Sanctuary offers is Equalia Actualization program. This program builds the bridge between the people in the community and the rescued horses. This experience allows for people of all ages including the physically impaired, to heal spiritually and emotionally along with the horses who to have experienced trauma.
Saffyre Sanctuary continues to rehabilitate mentally and physically abused horses with the help of committed staff, donors and volunteers during the pandemic. Esta continues to look forward to a brighter future for the health and wellness of the rescued horses and community members. “When you ask for nothing you receive everything, says Esta Bernstein Founder and C.E.O.
From Saffyre Sanctuary:
Saffyre Sanctuary, located in Los Angeles, California, is a horse rescue and rehabilitation program that cares for horses that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. By allowing them to rediscover their true nature, we provide every opportunity for them to experience the possibility of enjoying a second career, or offer them a well-deserved retirement due to soundness issues, age, or owner hardships. Saffyre Sanctuary Mission: To rescue and rehabilitate horses and heal the world we share!
For more information on the organization please visit:
Saffyre Sanctuary
Saffyre Sanctuary – YouTube Channel
What’s Good!: Saffyre Sanctuary Spectrum News 1
