Stories about our generous donors and volunteers
Thank you to our many donors and volunteers for your generosity of your time, talents and dollars. With your help we are able to produce life-changing results for the women and children who walk through our doors.
Below are a few stories that represent the variety of ways that we receive support from our volunteers and donors.
Angel Guardian Home's new Seating Area
Starting out in the summer of 2011, Senior Girl Scout Katie Jung embarked on her journey to achieve her Gold Award to benefit the families at the Angel Guardian Home. After meeting with Development Coordinator Annemarie Howse and Apartment Manager Dana Shareef, Jung launched plans to install a sitting area outfitted with concrete tables and benches, umbrellas, a storage bin for toys, and a little birdbath.
“Before I jumped headfirst into all of my plans, I wanted to make sure that my project was something that the women were actually going to appreciate and use for a long time,” Jung said.
Upon receiving this confirmation, Jung researched different sitting areas to best accommodate the women and children living at the residence. She later jumped into the fundraising aspect of her project by holding a tile drive where tiles were dedicated to the donors in exchange for their donations. After finding concrete tables with tiled tops, Jung incorporated the donor tiles into the tables to personalize the area for the families living there.
While the process of installing the sitting area was taking place, Jung also conducted a homelessness badge to teach to a younger Brownie Girl Scout troop. Activities included drawing, taking a homelessness quiz, participating in discussions on the topic, and performing a skit. The girls were also asked in advance to donate small items like mini shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, and etc. to the women at the shelter.
“One aspect of my project was spreading awareness about my cause and project, so I thought teaching younger girls about the issue of homelessness would be a great way to encourage them to help out their community while teaching them things about homelessness that they might not have known before,” Jung said.
Months of working on her project finally culminated in a kick-off party for the sitting area where the families enjoyed food, took part in a raffle, and spent time with their neighbors.
“Accomplishing my project made me realize that shelters like the Good Shepherd Center are always in need of help, so I am glad that I was able to make my own special contribution,” Jung said.
Mr. Wakefield Brings Music to Good Shepherd
In the spring of 2010, middle school band teacher, Ron Wakefield contacted Annemarie in the development department with an idea to provide music instruction to the children residing at Good Shepherd Center. Now, every Thursday, students from the North Park Middle School Band in Pico Rivera arrive to instruct our young residents on how to play the flute, the clarinet, and the trombone. Children with no prior music instruction first learn to play the recorder and to read music.
Ron firmly believes in empowering his students and promotes this through the use of peer instruction. Week after week the band students, just adolescents themselves, return to GSC to give their time to children less fortunate. During the week they are busy raising funds so that the students of GSC never have to worry about how to pay for their instruments, uniforms, travel expenses, or other costs that go with performing in a high quality band such as North Park Middle School Band.
The children of GSC have had the opportunity to march in the Disney Land Parade, the Veteran's Day Parde and the Parade in Korea Town. They have played with the band at Good Shepherd Center, Northpark Middle School and Shriners Hospital for Children. When appropriate, audience participation is encouraged and adults and children of alll ages enjoy their performance!
Suzanne
Suzanne came to GSC with a board member for a tour last year. She was so impressed with the work of Sr. Rosaline and the Outreach Van that she now accompanies her once a month to help distribute food, clothing and offers of assistance to the women living on the street.
"I have learned that the women who are homeless have had some tough breaks in their lives, beginning with the loss of a job, a spouse, a house... Good Shepherd truly treats these women with dignity and love and wants to help them move forward in their lives with jobs and housing. It could happen to me or one of my friends. That is why I contribute each month to Good Shepherd Center - to help others. Without Good Shepherd Center, I do not know where these women would go."
Golden Bridge Yoga
Nancy Beyda and Alexandra Rose became friends at Golden Bridge Yoga in Hollywood. Seeing all the homeless on the streets asking for food, they saw a need to help. Thus began their partnership with other members of Golden Bridge Yoga and Bristol Farms. Each morning, one of 20 volunteers goes to Bristol Farms in Beverly Hills and fills their vans with day old baked goods and produce. They called the sisters of GSC and asked if they would be willing to accept these donations and were told yes.
Several times a week these men and women pick up the fruit, vegetables, breads and pastries from Bristol Farms, and deliver them to the Emergency Shelter. The women that come to live at the shelter have the experience of trying some of the more exotic fruits like Cherimoya, Ugli fruit, Pepino Melon, tomatillos, and sea beans.
These fruits, vegetables and pastries are given to those who live in our Emergency Shelter as well as to those on the street through our Mobile Outreach program. Thanks to the efforts of Bristol Farms and the women of Golden Bridge Yoga, the sisters at our emergency shelter do not have to shop for fresh produce to the extent of previous years and are never at a loss of what to serve for dessert.
Back to School
When “Back to School” time arrives, the children at Good Shepherd Center look to Nancy Trumpower to provide them with the basic items they will need on that first day of school. Nancy and her group of volunteers come armed with backpacks, calculators, pencils, rulers, and other essentials, all sorted according to grade and needs. Nancy invites the local merchants to contribute to this cause and most are delighted at the opportunity to participate. To top it off she brings ice cream donated by Doctor Bob’s fresh made ice cream and a “Back to School Party” is in full swing!
New Garment Association
The New Garment Association (NGA) fulfills an important role during “Back to School” time. The 100 women who support this group make sure that each of our children receives a new outfit to start out the school year. Parents are asked to provide a list of names, ages and sizes of each child. The NGA women personally shop for each child making sure that each one is prepared for their first day of school from kindergarten to 11th grade.
Laurence and The Village Kitchen
Laurence Eggers had a meeting downtown, and wanted to eat lunch beforehand. He wandered into The Village Kitchen and fell in love with our food as well as the on-site vocational training in the culinary arts for the women living at Good Shepherd Center. Once a week, he stops by for breakfast or lunch and chats with the women who are in training as well as with Chef Manager Ali Taghi.
To support his favorite lunch spot, Laurence makes regular donations for The Village Kitchen. These donations help us get the women certified in Safe/Serve Prometrics, obtain uniforms, personal knife sets and have three - four months of classroom and on-the-job instruction.
