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PhiLAnthropist: Some Local Ways to Give Back
Submitted and authored by Emily Lerman
Photo by Jasmic is back in the building via Flickr
Los Angeles is a big city, which means there are lots of ways to get involved in the community and lend a helping hand. Here are just a few ideas...
TUTOR A HOMELESS CHILD: Since 1993, School on Wheels volunteers have traveled to homeless shelters, foster homes and libraries around the city tutoring homeless children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Volunteer opportunities include weekly one-on-one hour tutoring sessions. Typically the sessions occur after-hours as the children are in school during the day, and since School on Wheels is based on the idea that the volunteers travel to meet the children at shelters, there are various volunteer locations throughout LA, Ventura and Orange County. Attend an upcoming volunteer orientation session for more information: Thursday, July 24th Downtown LA, 5-8pm | Tuesday, July 29th South LA, 5-8pm.
HELP RUN THE TRASHed RECYCLING STORE AT THE XGAMES. Global Inheritance, an organization that strives to increase awareness and “reinvent activism for today’s young generation”, will be setting up shop at this year’s X-Games. These are the people responsible for the Hollywood Bowl Tour Rider bus program, and the “Coachella-express” train service and Energy FACTory Tent at this year’s Coachella festival. Volunteers will be working a TRASHed, a recycling-store where festival-goers can buy cool merch including clothing and skate decks in exchange “TRASHed” currency – bottles and cans. Volunteers get free access to the X-Games as well. July 31st -August 3rd; email evan@globalinheritance.org with "Summer X Games Help" as the subject line. Include your contact information and a description of your experience and interest.
READ TO KIDS: Reading to Kids, as the name implies, organizes monthly reading clubs at eight Los Angeles elementary schools. The organization "is dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading, thereby enriching their lives and opportunities for success in the future". Volunteers read to elementary school children, once a month, on Saturday mornings. At the end of each monthly Reading Club, every child and their parent receive a separate book to take home. Reading Clubs occur on the second Saturday of every month, from 9am-12pm, and the next one is August 9th.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
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