05-21-20122012-05-12 Mother’s Day Event a Success in Homeless Shelter!
The SimplyHelp Mother’s day event at the New Image Homeless Shelter was a heartwarming success, with over 200 women receiving clothing, bags, shoes, socks and cosmetics. We then provided meals for over 600 homeless men and women, followed by ice cream, served up by SimplyHelp Volunteers.
Thanks to all who helped out (special thanks to Juliette for the ice cream); it was wonderful to hear all the expressions of gratitude from the women at the shelter.
2012-05-11 Mother’s Day Event in El Mercad de Los Angeles Restaurant
在加州正面臨最近25 年以來最嚴重的經濟衰退，每天都有許多低收入的媽媽們為了生存而掙扎。在過去一年終我們聽到許多低收入媽媽工作沒有提供健康保險也不給付生病請假。許多人因為無法支付而不敢去看醫生，許多低收入媽媽抱病上班因為他們無法負擔在家休息。更有許多低收入媽媽因為生病而被老闆辭退。
在低收入媽媽中又有許多人為單親媽媽，許多單親媽媽在面臨缺少了一份經濟收入之下，還要負擔小孩的照護支出，才有辦法保留自己目前的工作或外出工作取得固定的收入，來維持自己與孩子的生理需求。但全球性的經濟性不景氣，加上許多工作缺乏彈性，往往讓單親媽媽無法在生理經濟需求上獲得安全保障。因此，如何讓單親媽媽獲得食、衣、住、行需求的安全感，是美國政府與民間非營利組織一同努力的目標，以實際行動協助他們扶養小孩、尋找工作、而成為獨立自主的女性
幫幫忙基金會除了在國外為低收入婦女成立職業培訓中心，在洛杉磯地區更與政府單位與其他非營利機構合作共同協助低收入婦女與青少年，近五年來每年更邀請對於婦女生存、教育、工作、疾病防治有傑出貢獻的學者與慈善團體參與聯合國婦女大會去分享他們的經驗。
洛杉磯波爾崗青年未來機會中心(Los Angeles Youth Opportunity Movement-Boyle
Heights 簡稱LAYOM)於5 月11 日這天上午 聯合 洛杉磯市(Los Angeles City), 科技教學中心
( Boyle Height Technology Center), 羅夢那高中(Ramona High Schol),洛杉磯市社區發展局
( Community Development Department), 青年生機中心(Youth Opportunity Centers),
(Workface Investment Board)共同邀請來自社區150 位低收入單親婦女聚餐，提早慶祝母親節。
一方面慰勞這些低收入母親們終年與經濟問題、兒童教養問題掙扎的辛勞；再者希望透過這樣的活動引起社會對於婦女就業、貧困家庭與婦女問題的重視。活動這天除了提供一份美味的午餐之外，主辦單位更由社區中募來大大小小的禮物摸彩，另外社區義工們也捐出許多婦女與兒童衣物幫助這些媽媽。有些人並不認為貧困母親為社會弱勢團體中亟需協助的對象，然而貧困母親背後是數以萬計的低收入兒童問題，多數的低收入婦女教育與社經地物較差，因而就業更加困難。唯有對於貧困婦女提供就業、托兒、營養、教育等協助。方能讓他們有機會再度站起來而不再成為依賴人口。
同樣的，對於來自低收入社區的青少年與兒童，唯有提供課業輔導、就業協助、大學申請協助、以及受虐心理輔導等幫助，他們的人生方能擺脫幫派的影響，未來方有希望。
為了幫助低收入社區的家庭與學童能夠改善他們社區的文化，將幫派文化淡出社區，讓貧困媽媽能克服目前困境而就業，讓青少年能擺脫幫派而認真念書與培養就業技能，洛杉磯市政府、勞工局、就業輔導中心、青少年輔導中心 聯合非營利機構幫幫忙基金會與公司團體一同為低收入的單親媽媽提供子女教養、協助完成學業、履歷準備與面試技巧練習、協助尋找實習與就業機會、協助獲得上班所需衣物等服務。
幫幫忙基金會希望將大家的愛心能夠傳達給更多需要幫助的遊民。歡迎熱心民眾一同加入義工與募款送愛心的行列
SimplyHelp 2011 Thanksgiving Event
Dear SimplyHelp Volunteers:
Thank you so much for your participation in SimplyHelp’s Thanksgiving Distribution Event. Because you were willing to give of your own time on this beautiful holiday, we were able to serve a complete Thanksgiving feast, as well as distribute clothing and gifts, to over 680 homeless individuals at the New Image Emergency Shelter in Los Angeles.
The event was a huge success, and we could not have accomplished it without you. The holidays can be an especially difficult time for people in need, and your generosity and kindness brought great joy to hundreds of very grateful people.
I think everyone that participated in this event found it both enriching and fulfilling, and also learned some valuable life lessons from it.
Sincerely,
Tina Bow-President-Simply Help
SimplyHelp Long Beach Cambodian Community Distribution
On Saturday, October 29th, 2011, SimplyHelp volunteers distributed food and toys to poor Cambodian residents of Long Beach. This area is home to many refugees from Cambodia, many who are brought here unable to read, write or speak English. It was very fulfilling to be able to help, and to bring some smiles to some very appreciative members of the community.
New Jersey fundraising event – Thanks for all the support!
Last week SimplyHelp’s New Jersey chapter held a fantastic fundraising event that raised over $35,000 to support both our ongoing and future projects. The event was a huge success, and a lot of fun!
Our overall fundraising goal for 2012 is slated at $125,000, which includes construction costs and operational expenses such as food, medicine, and caregiving fees for our 4th senior center in El Salvador. We are 20% closer to our goal! Support our mission to help impoverished seniors in need by donating today.
SimplyHelp El Salvador Trip: Spaces still available!
The SimplyHelp Foundation is pleased to announce that we have spaces available for our annual summer trip to El Salvador. We will be traveling to El Salvador in support of our developing projects from June 23 – June 28. We encourage all business owners, community members, and our dedicated base of supporters, donors and volunteers to join us on the trip and help serve the underprivileged communities of El Salvador firsthand. If you would like to sign up for the trip and travel with us, contact Andrea at andrea@simplyhelp.org or call (213) 626-2888 by June 18.
We have four upcoming projects that target impoverished Salvadoran communities that need your support:
1. Ground breaking for our fourth Senior Center for the Homeless Elderly. So far, we have raised 20% of the $85,000 goal needed to continue the project. Our three existing centers for the homeless elderly have provided much-needed care for needy seniors in the area, and a fourth center is necessary to helping others in the area receive the same care.
2. Build a home for a low-income family. The cost is $2500 per house, which can be donated as a gift to a single family. Costs will fund all equipment and labor supplies necessary to building the home.
3. Single mother financial support. SimplyHelp has sponsored several vocational schools in El Salvador that assist in instructing low-income single mothers in trades that will help secure them viable employment. Even though these mothers are on the right track towards improving their financial situations, they still feel economic pressures when it comes to providing for their children.We ask volunteers to collect school supplies for the children of these single mothers to ease the financial pressures these single mothers face every day. Every small donation can help make a difference!
4. Feed a family for $10. SimplyHelp seeks to collect donations of rice, beans, and other non-perishable food items to be distributed to the low-income communities we serve in El Salvador. For just $10, you can provide one family with a week’s worth of nutritious meals.
We look forward to hearing from you!
SimplyHelp
SimplyHelp Mother’s Day Event –Thanks to Our Volunteers!
On Sunday, May 8, SimplyHelp participated in a Mother’s Daycharity sale held by the Joint Chinese University Alumni Association of Southern California. SimplyHelp volunteers sold $335 worth of computer bags, toys and visors. All proceeds from the sale will go to benefit to our international and domestic programs that benefit low-income single mothers. Thank you so much to our wonderful volunteers who took time out of their own Mother’s Day to help make a difference in the lives of other less fortunate mothers across the world.
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