It may be an especially difficult time for people this year, due to COVID-19 or the isolation that accompanies it. Please check out a list of resources to donate or receive food, money or other services, below, recommended by members of our Executive Board. HLA has not endorsed these organizations, but we are providing this information so that you can donate now, or on Giving Tuesday (December 1), if you are so inclined.
COVID-19 and MENTAL HEALTH CONNECTIONS If you are feeling overwhelmed by COVID-19, you can call the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health helpline at 800-854-7771 or text ‘LA” to 74174 anytime. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) supports the wellbeing of our County residents and communities. LACDMH’s Help Line is available 24/7 to provide mental health support, resources, and referrals. For more resources, visit their website HERE.
HELP THE UNHOUSED These missions still need your help (help with the unhoused, filling food boxes, assembling hygiene kids, collecting toys, clothing and blankets, donating finances).
Downtown Women's Center The Downtown Women’s Center is the only organization in Los Angeles focused exclusively on serving and empowering women experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless women.
Fred Jordan Missions Since 1944, Fred Jordan Missions has been one of the longest-serving hunger-relief organizations in Los Angeles. Our calling to “Declare and Demonstrate the Love of Jesus” does not waiver, but remains steadfast in being the extended hands and feet of Jesus in the midst of COVID-19. Los Angeles Mission Los Angeles Mission exists to provide help, hope and opportunity to men, women and children in need.
Midnight Mission Founded in 1914, The Midnight Mission offers paths to self-sufficiency to men, women and children who have lost direction. Our emergency services and 12-step recovery, family living, job training, education and workforce development programs offer a compassionate bridge to achieve and maintain healthy, productive lives. Safe Place for Youth Safe Place for Youth empowers young people experiencing homelessness to thrive by providing lasting, community-driven solutions that address racial and social inequity.
Union Rescue Mission Your immediate gift to Union Rescue Mission provides safe shelter, food, hope, and the second chance someone needs to begin a new life.
Union Station Homeless Services For more than 45 years, Union Station Homeless Services has helped adults and families facing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in our community.
FEEDING PEOPLE
AllTogetherLA AllTogetherLA delivers food and medication to seniors and the immunocompromised during COVID-19.
Feed Culver COVID-19 has led to more food-insecure seniors, families, and neighbors within Culver City. The restaurant industry has been greatly affected as well. Feed Culver gives people in the community a much-needed balanced meal that’s sourced from local restaurants.
Food Forward Food Forward staff and volunteers rescue over 500,000 pounds of surplus produce each week from fruit trees, farmers markets and the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. 100% of these fresh fruits and vegetables are donated to over 1,800 hunger relief agencies across 8 counties in Southern California. Hollywood Food Coalition Hollywood Food Coalition is partnering with Gobble Gobble Give for its annual Thanksgiving Day distribution of food boxes, hygiene kits and other essentials at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, where volunteers are needed to assemble and pass out kits. You also can donate items such as stuffing mix, instant potatoes, cans of gravy, green beans and mushroom soup, butter, pies, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and milk for the meals.
Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger Through advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships, Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger takes action to impact the lives of millions of people who struggle with hunger.
Project Angel Food in Hollywood Project Angel Food needs volunteers with vehicles on Thanksgiving Day (and many other days) to deliver 1,000 meals to its critically ill, homebound clients between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Masks and social distancing required.
Swipe Out Hunger Swipe Out Hunger is a leading nonprofit addressing hunger among college students. Helps students at over 120 college campuses.
Westside Food Bank Double your impact this holiday season with Westside Food Bank's "Millions Meals Match Challenge." The Johnny Carson Foundation is offering a dollar-for-dollar match for donations to help Westside Food Bank provide one million meals for local people facing food insecurity.
HEALTH, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, and OTHER SERVICES
The Actors Fund The Actors Fund distributes emergency financial assistance to people in the acting and entertainment industry. This money is helping people cover basic living expenses, such as food, essential medications, utilities, and more.
Allies for Every Child Allies for Every Child invests in healthy childhoods so every child has a life filled with opportunity.
Being Alive Los Angeles Mission Being Alive Los Angeles Mission's goal is to end HIV by ending stigma, engaging people in wellness, removing barriers to care, and restoring dignity.
Children’s Defense Fund California As advocates for the most vulnerable children and families, Children's Defense Fund California urges the state and the federal government to immediately address the basic needs of the families hit hardest by the directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services provides free mental health, substance use disorder, and suicide prevention services. Dedicated to serving communities where stigma or poverty limits access.
Homegirl Cafe At the heart of Homegirl Café is the goal to create a safe space for our clients, particularly females, many of whom have experienced domestic violence and the challenges of single parenthood, in addition to the usual obstacles created by gang involvement and incarceration.
Homeboy Industries Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. Stands as a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to provide training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.
Los Angeles LGBT Center Los Angeles LGBT Center provides services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services, and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy.
Mar Vista Family Center The Mar Vista Family Center (MVFC) operates on a sustainable and cooperative model through which families remain involved with the Center across generations from early childhood all the way through adulthood. Through its unique Shared Responsibility Curriculum Model, MVFC has helped transform a community once filled with urban gang violence and unsafe streets into a thriving, healthy community — and given its residents a safe space in which to learn, grow, and lead.
Mend Poverty With dignity and respect, MEND’s mission is to meet the immediate needs of individuals and families and increase their access to opportunities that strengthen their capacity to thrive.
Opens Arms Charity Opens Arms Charity provides a helping hand to those who need it the most. Open Arms Food Pantries team gives to over 500+ families monthly essentials not limited to: diapers, hygiene kits, household essentials, formula, vegetables, fruits, can goods, detergent, paper goods, blankets, meal gift cards and more. St. Joseph's Center St. Joseph Center’s mission is to provide working poor families, as well as homeless men, women, and children of all ages with the inner resources and tools to become productive, stable, and self-supporting members of the community.
Sandy Segal Youth Health Center/Venice Family Clinic Sandy Segal Youth Health Center provides high quality, comprehensive health care to students who might otherwise go without the care they need. Services are provided by Venice Family Clinic whose professional staff of medical professionals, behavioral health therapists and health educators care for the physical and mental health needs of students. The SSYHC is a safe place where teens can speak with someone about whatever is on their minds and get the care they need.
Say Word LA Say World LA empowers enlightens and activates young people through writing and performance to improve literacy and cultivate social change and healing.
Together We Rise Together We Rise is a non-profit that makes the foster care experience better for the 430,000 children going through it.
Venice Family Clinic Venice Family Clinic delivers high quality, comprehensive medical care plus supportive programs and services that work together to help patients get healthy and stay that way.
MAKE A CHILD'S HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Be an Elf Be and Elf and help answer sad letters to Santa from kids.
Operation Santa Make a child’s holiday special through the USPS’ Operation Santa program.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved – leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system.
MALDEF MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.
NARAL Pro-Choice California NARAL Pro-Choice California is the leading grassroots pro-choice advocacy organization in our state, and we believe that every woman should be able to make personal decisions about the full range of reproductive health options. NARAL Pro-Choice California works to protect every woman’s right to access the full range of reproductive health options, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. NARAL Pro-Choice California is the state affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
PEN America PEN American stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. ProPublica Pro Publica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
RAINN RAIN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Trevor Project The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
