Fallbrook Food Pantry recieved a grant to help expand their nutrition, wellness, and vocational education courses that support 1000 children and adults. Funds will go to direct program expenses such as food, supplies, educational materials, and educator salaries.  The Fallbrook Food Pantry is a non-profit organization primarily staffed by volunteers.  Its mission is to provide an adequate and nutritious supply of food to individuals in their community who are in-need. They address food insecurity and social determinants of health by reducing inequities through food distribution, education, and health monitoring. For over 30 years, FFP has served a culturally diverse community of low-income and disadvantaged families and empowers clients to become self-sufficient, independent and productive members of the community. 

The Eli Home recieved a grant for Case Management of their CARP (Children of Addicts Recovery Program).  CARP is Eli’s most recent innovation aimed at addressing child abuse, homelessness, and addiction, three of the most pressing social problems of our time. CARPs long-term goals for mothers are sobriety, improved parenting and family relationships, stable housing, financial independence and self-sufficiency.  Between 7/1/22 and 6/30/23 the CARP program served 123 mothers and children.  The Eli Home’s mission is to break the cycle of child abuse.  It aims to strengthen and build resiliency in the lives of children of abuse, neglect, homelessness, poverty, mental illness, undocumented, incarcerated, or addicted parents and prepare them to lead non-violent and equitable lives through shelter, counseling, education, support, and advocacy.

Arts Bridging the Gap recieved  a grant to support the 2023-2024 Arts+Wellness programs at Fairfax High School and LA High School.  Specifically, the grant will support Program Manager Ariella Kirschbaum’s salary, teacher fees and classroom supplies.  ABG expects to reach 75 students at each school with the broader school populations engaging with the final projects.

Arts Bridging the Gap is a 501(c)3 Social Justice organization that uplifts the voices, experiences, and self-expression of youth from under resourced communities through immersive arts programs. They seek to cultivate the skills, mindsets, and connections that will allow youth to be their best and fullest selves, as individuals and as members of diverse, thriving communities.  They currently offer five educational programs that utilize the arts to provide resources and support for young people in under resourced areas to realize their full potential.

Adventures to Dreams Enrichment recieved a grant to support their youth garden program.  The funds will be used for lumber for raised garden beds, garden supplies including soil and fertilizer and hands-on educational activities for their youth camps.  Their garden serves over 50 youth through enrichment programs and over 250 community members through monthly food giveaways.

The mission of Adventures to Dreams Enrichment is to empower youth by teaching them to grow their own food, engaging them in enrichment activities, providing mentorship and offering a safe environment to lean and play.  This provides an open avenue to creativity and open-ended thinking skills.

“Love our @AccessBooks volunteers! Our work couldn’t happen without you. Shout out to our families from @pacificschoolpta for helping us with our MLK library refurbishment. Our next volunteer opportunity is fast approaching to sort books in Santa Ana, CA on Saturday, November 7th. Adults, children, and families are all welcome to join us for a few hours to make this day a complete success by signing up through our website”

Click here to learn more about Access Books. 

Village for Vets received a grant for their Food First program to support food box distribution.  This will include paying a truck driver to deliver food boxes to formerly homeless and at-risk veterans who experience food insecurity and who live in permanent support housing in Los Angeles County.  About 300 veterans and their families will receive food box distribution two times per month over the next year.  Village for Vets fills critical gaps in key services for homeless and at-risk veterans in greater Los Angeles to support them on their journey to stability and independence.  They fulfill this mission through four core programs that safeguard the health of vulnerable veterans; promote food, housing and employment security; and provide links to life-changing benefits and services. 

As an approved agency of the Westside Foodbank, makes weekly deliveries of food boxes, including produce and pantry staples, to food insecure veterans living in permanent supportive housing in Greater Los Angeles. Many of these buildings are managed by the VA but others are part of New Directions, Step Up on 2nd and LA Family Housing.

Click here to see other 2021 recipients. 

This is a great article to learn more about what UCLA Watts Leadership Institute is all about!

A Grassroots Mission in Watts