Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Los Angeles Hospital Dumping Ordinance Long Overdue
Dumping of hospital patients, some of the most vulnerable citizens of Los Angeles, has to stop!
The Los Angeles Mission has been the recipient of these “dumpings.” The fact is that unless certain hospitals find it more economically painful to not dump than dump, dump they will for the benefit of the bottom line. Some have voluntarily and effectively stopped by working with service providers. They have done the right thing without legal action. Some have not!
I urge the City Council of Los Angeles to proceed full speed with this ordinance and stop this horrific pattern of behavior. Jan Perry deserves an incredible pat on the back (maybe even a spa day!) for her tireless efforts on this issue.
County Supervisors, I appeal to you to act quickly and decisively to work with the City Council to end this once and for all.
See these articles for more information:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dumping15-2008may15,1,5391205.story
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_9262764?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
--Herb Smith, President
Monday, May 19, 2008
Anne Douglas Center – All spruced up and ready to serve!
A new multipurpose room, new family room and much more efficient office space combined with the new Anne Douglas Boutique and Beauty Shop were highlights of the tours led by graduates.
Thank you, Anne, for your incredible vision and concern for the women in greatest need here in Los Angeles. We pledge to carry on the tradition of our first sixteen years by providing services for those in crisis from homelessness and addictions. How exciting to do so in our beautiful new spa-like environment.
As our ladies said at the event, having something beautiful on the outside helps make you want to make things beautiful on the inside. We will continue to make lives beautiful on the inside with your help and the help of all of our donors and volunteers at the Anne Douglas Center for Women.
--Herb Smith, President
Monday, May 05, 2008
Moving on down the road to home!
Healthy physical activity is great therapy for those without a home as well as those of us with a home. The Los Angeles Mission places value in physical conditioning with our weight room and gym for those we serve. Our chaplain/coach Jeff Elhami works to find all kinds of sports and training opportunities. Helping to restore physical health is just a part of what we do. But, it has huge benefits for the long term health and success of those we serve. Want to know more about our activities? Comment us.
Go Anne and the Sunday Breakfast Mission.
THE FACE OF PHILANTHROPY
Moving in the Right Direction
By Anne W. Howard
Photograph by Dario MesciaEvery morning last spring, while training for a marathon, Anne Mahlum would jog past a group of homeless men who sat outside the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, in Philadelphia. She smiled and waved at first, then as she got to know them, she would stop to chat for a few minutes.
But as Ms. Mahlum continued her running routine, she says, she started to feel like she was turning her back on the men.
"Here I am moving my life forward in every way possible — physically, emotionally, mentally — and I'm leaving them on this corner," says Ms. Mahlum, a marketing consultant. "So in my head I'm thinking, I can work this out. I'm going to start a running club for these guys."
Back on My Feet, the group Ms. Mahlum founded last July, organizes homeless people in Philadelphia into running teams and provides them with shoes and workout clothes. It requires participants to have stayed sober and in a shelter for at least 30 days. The group offers $500 in housing assistance and $1,000 scholarships as rewards that members can earn by participating in the jogs and by demonstrating leadership qualities and teamwork.
"Members are realizing how much they're capable of and how important it is to have positive people in your life," Ms. Mahlum says. "To hear words like 'I'm proud of you, you're doing really great,' it goes a really long way."
The young organization, which is filing for charity status with the Internal Revenue Service, has already received attention on CNN and ABC World News Tonight and has raised $200,000. The charity may soon expand to Washington and also create a running group for homeless adolescents.
Ms. Mahlum says that running melts away any distinctions between participants from the shelters and other runners: "When we're running in the morning, we have black, white, old, young — it doesn't really matter. You can't tell who's homeless. All you can tell is who's the fastest."
Here, Ms. Mahlum leads a group on a run in Philadelphia.
--Herb Smith, President
Friday, May 02, 2008
Homeless Man Shows Compassion
A homeless man looking for cans discovers the newborn stuffed in a bag full of discarded
mail. The mother is in custody. This story in the Los Angeles Times written by Molly
Hennessy-Fiske on April 30 tells about a tragedy averted.
I still reel from disbelief when I hear that babies are discarded like trash! The Safe Surrender Baby law enacted eight years ago has helped. Why hasn’t it ended this tragedy?
Sometimes humans just don’t do the right things! Ms. Jimenez, the mother in the story needs to be held accountable for her actions while also being shown that there is a better way to handle life’s problems than just dumping them in a Target bag of discarded junk mail.
The Los Angeles Mission is open 24/7/365 and welcomes any mother to come here for help rather than dumping her baby in the trash. We are committed to supporting the Safe Surrender law, homeless or not, while providing love and concern for all. As a last resort let us help place your baby with loving legal caregivers while you ponder your choices.
-- Herb Smith, President