The Helpers

The Echo Park Trash Club gathers a few times a month to help keep LA streets clean. They also serve homeless encampments, where they’ve had to spend time building trust with residents.

from Greater LA

LA nun Sister Mary Sean Hodges has helped more than 10,000 parolees adjust to life after incarceration. Their recidivism rate has been under 1% since 2002.

from Greater LA

For formerly incarcerated people seeking firefighting jobs in the private sector, they can get help from the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.

Formerly incarcerated firefighters find purpose in private sector, thanks to nonprofit

For formerly incarcerated people seeking firefighting jobs in the private sector, they can get help from the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.

from Greater LA

Sister Simone Campbell will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor this week. She’s an activist, lawyer, poet, and co-founder of the “Nuns on the Bus” movement.

Sister Simone Campbell: From ‘nun on the bus’ to Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient

Sister Simone Campbell will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor this week. She’s an activist, lawyer, poet, and co-founder of the “Nuns on the Bus” movement.

from Greater LA

The Tayo Help Desk is a virtual platform with COVID-19 resources that all Filipinos can use. People can also dial 800-899-5090 if they want to speak with someone for help.

Filipino young leaders create COVID hotline to help older relatives and community

The Tayo Help Desk is a virtual platform with COVID-19 resources that all Filipinos can use. People can also dial 800-899-5090 if they want to speak with someone for help.

from Greater LA

Tatiana Brunetti, owner of Healthy Indulgence Bakery in downtown LA, is sending proceeds to help animals wounded and abandoned in Ukraine.

DTLA bakery sends care packages to Ukrainian animal shelter

Tatiana Brunetti, owner of Healthy Indulgence Bakery in downtown LA, is sending proceeds to help animals wounded and abandoned in Ukraine.

from Greater LA

Once a month, members of the East Side Riders club distribute food to unhoused Angelenos along their cycling route. The group has evolved since John Jones III founded it in 2008.

East Side Riders founder: Drivers need to take bike safety classes

Once a month, members of the East Side Riders club distribute food to unhoused Angelenos along their cycling route. The group has evolved since John Jones III founded it in 2008.

from Greater LA

After Cari Golden graduated from culinary school in 2020, she started cooking and distributing meals for unhoused residents of Skid Row.

Using donated food and $100, Cari Golden cooks for Skid Row residents

After Cari Golden graduated from culinary school in 2020, she started cooking and distributing meals for unhoused residents of Skid Row.

from Greater LA

Bassist Frederick “Juice” Johnson suffered strokes, cancer, and then homelessness. His life turned around thanks to nonprofits, and now he’s giving back to those same organizations.

Former bass guitarist finds a new groove through volunteering

Bassist Frederick “Juice” Johnson suffered strokes, cancer, and then homelessness. His life turned around thanks to nonprofits, and now he’s giving back to those same organizations.

from Greater LA

Three women help their communities by feeding Afghan kids, giving free beauty services to unhoused Angelenos, and destigmatizing mental health among Latino families.

‘Helpers’ reflect on 2021: Afghanistan, Skid Row, Latinx mental health

Three women help their communities by feeding Afghan kids, giving free beauty services to unhoused Angelenos, and destigmatizing mental health among Latino families.

from Greater LA

On the first Saturday each month in Ladera Heights, a group of volunteers picks up trash on the side of the road, in public places where everybody can see.

‘It looks like a battle zone’: Volunteers clean up trash-clogged stretch of Ladera Heights

On the first Saturday each month in Ladera Heights, a group of volunteers picks up trash on the side of the road, in public places where everybody can see.

from Greater LA

ReWerk distributes unwanted office and tech gear to schools and other nonprofits.

ReWerk reshuffles unwanted office gear from tech companies to underserved schools

ReWerk distributes unwanted office and tech gear to schools and other nonprofits.

from Greater LA

A nonprofit called the Sidewalk Project supplies unhoused people with Narcan, clean syringes, condoms, pipes, and marijuana.

How a Narcan ‘Tree of Life’ prevents overdoses on Skid Row

A nonprofit called the Sidewalk Project supplies unhoused people with Narcan, clean syringes, condoms, pipes, and marijuana.

from Greater LA

Dr. Meena Said’s family fled Afghanistan as refugees when she was a baby.

‘All we can do right now is give them pain control’: How an Afghan doctor in Santa Monica is helping from afar

Dr. Meena Said’s family fled Afghanistan as refugees when she was a baby.

from Greater LA

South Bay Wildlife Rehab in Rancho Palos Verdes has taken in more than 300 birds this year, and is currently bulging at the seams with 111 patients.

South Bay Wildlife Rehab teaches birds of prey to slay all day

South Bay Wildlife Rehab in Rancho Palos Verdes has taken in more than 300 birds this year, and is currently bulging at the seams with 111 patients.

from Greater LA

High school senior Kelly Danielpour founded VaxTeen to give her peers reliable and easy-to-understand information about COVID.

What to do when parents won’t let their teens get COVID vaccines? VaxTeen offers guidance on consent laws

High school senior Kelly Danielpour founded VaxTeen to give her peers reliable and easy-to-understand information about COVID.

from Greater LA

Several mutual aid groups popped up around the city during the pandemic to help their fellow Angelenos.

Burnout plus up-and-down donations: How some LA mutual aid groups are faring more than a year into COVID

Several mutual aid groups popped up around the city during the pandemic to help their fellow Angelenos.

from Greater LA

The nonprofit Sisters of Watts is made up of four sisters who’ve lived in Watts nearly their entire lives.

Sisters of Watts distribute food, clothes, and vaccine advice

The nonprofit Sisters of Watts is made up of four sisters who’ve lived in Watts nearly their entire lives.

from Greater LA

Many Southern Californians found refuge in the woods during the pandemic. Some took strolls through their neighborhood park or hiked into their local national forest.

Have you hit the trails this year? Give back by joining a trail crew

Many Southern Californians found refuge in the woods during the pandemic. Some took strolls through their neighborhood park or hiked into their local national forest.

from Greater LA

If you drive by a mosque in Orange County around sunset, you may see a mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit and a halal taco truck.

Food truck offers halal tacos and COVID vaccines at mosques, uniting OC Muslims and Latinos

If you drive by a mosque in Orange County around sunset, you may see a mobile COVID-19 vaccination unit and a halal taco truck.

from Greater LA