by Julia Rajkovic | Nov 15, 2020 | Feature, General, News
Los Angeles, CA. From providing medical care to only 12 patients in a borrowed dental clinic on Lincoln Boulevard to operating 13 different locations and serving nearly 28,000 patients, Venice Family Clinic has come a long way in the past 50 years. To celebrate all the work they’ve accomplished, Venice Family Clinic invited their biggest supporters to a virtual celebration hosted by Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg in October.
Without the work of the Venice Family Clinic, 28,000 people could go without the healthcare and resources they need to live safe and healthy lives.
The clinic provides primary health care along with a number of extensive services including substance abuse treatment programs, domestic violence programs, early head start programs for mothers and their newborn children, and more. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic has pivoted to providing telemedicine services for 50% of their appointments in order to limit the number of people who come into the clinic. Michelle Stuffmann, Communications Director, says how the clinic and its’ team are “trying to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep both our patients and our workers healthy and safe.”
Venice Family Clinic celebrates 50th anniversary with virtual festivities (Picture by Venice Family Clinic)
The celebration showcased who the clinic is and what the clinic does while also raising donations in honor of the clinic. “The kick-off was tremendously successful, we had a generous donor who put up a million dollars to inspire matching gifts, and I am thrilled to say that we met that match”, Stuffmann shares. In addition to their virtual kick-off party, the clinic also hosted a week of action inspiring volunteers and supporters to perform acts of kindness for their community. Participants gave donations, purchased items off of the clinic’s amazon wishlist, put together care packages for patients experiencing homelessness, and more, all in service of the clinic and its’ patients.
Venice Family Clinic distributing fresh produce at Culver City location (Picture taken from Venice Family Clinic)
Venice Family Clinic recently started doing small distributions of fresh produce, a project which has grown immensely in the face of the pandemic. As a result of the community’s growing need, the clinic has expanded its food distribution to every Tuesday at their location in Santa Monica, and every other Thursday at their health center in Culver City. Stuffmann says there is no need to sign up, “we are in the community, by the community, for the community, so whether or not you are our patient or not, if you need help, just come to the distribution and we will give you food.” The clinic provides produce to 18,000 people a week and just recently made a partnership with UCLA dining services to provide full meals to 10,000 patients a week.
From Venice Family Clinic:
Venice Family Clinic provides high-quality comprehensive health care to families and individuals who might otherwise go without the care they need.
by Yasmin Vieira | Nov 15, 2020 | Feature, General, Lifestyle, News
Los Angeles, CA. Valley Socials started in the San Fernando Valley. It is a unique social skills program for the special needs population. Program outings (pictured above before the pandemic) not only teach social skills but consumer skills and how to conduct confident business transactions. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, fundraising has become more challenging; the nonprofit is facing a funding crisis. Leaders fear families may need to pay for the enrichments. Janet Marie, the creator of the organization, says Valley Socials might have to be turned into a business instead of a non-profit, “I won’t stop working with the kids, but if we don’t get any donations soon, I might have to Valley Socials into a business.”
Social Valley friends at the museum before COVID-19
Currently, students are still meeting in parks and malls. They’re using safety measures and enjoying some social life activities. But, since the pandemic started, donations have stopped and it affects how the organization can continue to take the kids into activities. Janet drives kids to the activities and helps with snacks and other needs, but it is hard for her to keep going all by herself, especially because her daughter, Pauline, is a special needs teenager who needs all the support her mom can give.
Pauline was the reason Janet decided to start the Valley Socials. Janet saw all the improvements Pauline was making and wanted to give the same opportunities and hope to parents and kids in the same situation.
A day at the fire station with their community!
In addition to donations, Valley Socials is also looking for volunteers to help with meetings and having a bonding experience with special needs kids, teenagers, and adults.
If you’d like to donate, there’s more information on the Valley Socials website. The organization is also very active on social media.
From Valley Socials:
Our program provides lasting results because we don’t simply work with a participant’s strengths or compensate for a weakness, but we tackle the root cause of the issues by supervising social groups and having them actively participate in social activities.
“The Special Needs population is exploding due to the rise of diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and better assessments today. One in 59 children will be diagnosed with ASD. About 20% (or higher) students receive Special Education services in the USA. There are approximately 3.5 million Americans with special needs in America.”
by Julia Rajkovic | Nov 10, 2020 | Feature, General, News
Los Angeles, CA. Social distancing requirements due to the Covid-19 pandemic are making it difficult for volunteers to do their typical hands-on work. Now an organization called L.A. Works is helping both nonprofits and volunteers find ways to help the community. Through a program called “Make Room For Caring in Social Distancing,” L.A. Works shares five ways volunteers can make an impact. Those options include the following: volunteer at a COVID-19 testing site, volunteer for in-person hunger relief, volunteer from home, join the Red Cross, or make a donation. For those who are healthy and able to do so, important programs such as COVID-19 testing and hunger relief are desperate for hands-on volunteer workers.
Volunteer working at COVID-19 drive-thru testing site
For those who would prefer to volunteer from home, L.A. Works offers hundreds of engaging virtual volunteering opportunities such as doing a Zoomba class with special needs youth, virtual tutoring with underprivileged children, and fitness class fundraisers. L.A. Works has also started the #MillionMaskChallengeLA which is a volunteer project challenging Los Angeles residents to sew as many masks as they can and donate them to those in need. Program administrators write, “At L.A. Works, we are proud to see our community at its best, working together while staying apart. We know, now more than ever, we are in this together and we must respond together.”
BLM protesters participate in June protest
In addition to promoting safe volunteering options, L.A. Works also dedicates part of its volunteer efforts toward the Black Lives Matter movement. L.A. Works makes it easy for volunteers to become involved in the movement, whether this means becoming educated on systemic racism or volunteering to help close the education gap. This goal is stated on the nonprofit’s website: “Creating volunteer programs and experiences infused with discussions, learning, and advocacy to advance social change is at the very core of our mission.” To achieve this goal L.A. works offers volunteers the opportunity to join an advocacy program on racial justice, volunteer to tutor disadvantaged children, and feed the homeless.
From L.A. Works:
Founded in 1991, our mission consists of three principal pillars: INCREASE volunteer participation in community service projects; PROVIDE our nonprofit partners with access to volunteer labor and other RESOURCES; and EDUCATE and encourage people to engage in the broader social issues affecting the greater Los Angeles Community.
