GROWTH

I learned a lot that first year and received great feedback from several people who contributed. Have you thought about adding toiletries? How about menstrual products?  What about using Amazon WishList so you don’t have to meet people to pick up donations/ they can save money on shipping? How about doing healthier meals instead of fast food? All amazing ideas that I have utilized to tweak my approach every year.

Amazon WishList streamlined the donations process to where I could customize which products were needed, and everything got shipped directly to my home. Each year, utilizing my network in Los Angeles and beyond, I’m able to share the initiative with hundreds, if not thousands of people who want to give back. Ever year, I receive hundreds of items on my doorstep (my living room gets FILLED to the point where it’s hard to walk lol) totaling to thousands of dollars worth of socks, underwear, and other necessities. I’ve gotten to spend some incredible time with friends who don’t go to their respective “home” for the holidays, when we distribute items together on Christmas morning.

During the pandemic, my perspective shifted.

With donations, I’ve known this initiative has helped many each year, but it’s ultimately a bandaid solution to a bigger systemic problem. My approach to giving back shifted, and I started focusing my attention on what could help address the issues from a macro perspective. Local government. My (and everyone else’s) concern for the 2020 election was on the forefront of my brain, so I began doing what I could by phone banking for local and state democratic candidates. A close friend told me about an LA City Council candidate whose platform, specifically on housing and homelessness, was exactly in line with where I wanted to focus my attention. I began phone banking for Nithya Ramen, and learned about her involvement on the board of an homeless coalition called SELAH.