Santa Monica Christmas

 

• Santa Monica Christmas
• 2010 Trip Story
• 2011 Trip
• Shutterfly Photo Album

Do you want to help this year?

Dear Friend:

In November, December, and January of 2010 I took a series of trips to Santa Monica, California. You can view the original preview here, the original letter here and the mission accomplished letter here. You can also view a photo album of all my Santa Monica trips here.

During the November trip I volunteered at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium serving meals to the homeless during a 9 hour shift. I also took the time for orientation training for the next month's trip to volunteer at the Ocean Park Community Center, now called the "Access Center".

In December, I volunteered for 3 weeks at the Ocean Park Community Center, serving the homeless. Most every day I was able to spend time serving and preparing meals, handing out clothes, assisting in a computer lab, and other outreach efforts. I was also able to join United Steps in an outreach in downtown LA during the Clippers Rockets NBA game, as well as taking outreach rides through downtown L.A., Venice Beach (late at night), and on Christmas Day, Skid Row.

This is how I wanted to spend my Christmas, pouring into others and it was funded by asking all of you to help fill me to pour into others.

I am going to do it again in December 2011. Now is your chance to get involved.

A little about Ocean Park:

Each year, OPCC and its projects serve 8,000 individuals.
98% live below poverty level
85% are homeless
50% are mentally ill
44% are minorities

 

I am today asking for your help. I am asking you if you can join me by donating $50, $75, $100, or $250 towards this effort. I need to raise $2800 by 12/01/2011 to make this possible, flying out 12/16. Would you be willing to help? The total trip cost will be $2000. This money will be for airfare, lodging that is in Marina Del Rey, 25 minutes from Santa Monica, and bus fare each day on public transport and other miscellaneous costs. I will not be renting a car so I can keep costs down.

The trip dates are 12/13/11-1/6/12 so I am giving up time with my friends and family over Christmas and New Years to stay in a city where I have neither friends nor family but I believe being there for the people in need in Santa Monica is what I am called to do over this Christmas season. Will you help me?

Richard Bloom, a City Council Member, wrote me saying, "Los Angeles County has unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of homeless individuals in the country: about 75,000 or over 10% of the nation's total homeless population. It has been a priority issue for me for many years now." - It will be a priority of mine over this holiday season too. Can it be a priority of ours? By supporting me it's like you are there too, working along side of me, helping make the holidays brighter for those Council Member Bloom is speaking of.

Checks can be made payable to : Good Neighbor Foundation and sent to : Ron Hall / 1438a Pennock Avenue / Nashville, TN 37207. All donations are Tax Deductible. All donations must be received no later than Dec 1, 2011.

Please consider joining me financially this Christmas with a gift of support. Together we can make a difference for those in need.

Give your Gift of $25, $50, $75, $100, $250 or more -

All gifts are tax deductible through the Affero Project, part of the Good Neighbors Foundation, a 501c(3) Registered Charity EIN: #62-1854502