Share Holiday Cheer for Struggling Families

QUICK OVERVIEW
From the confort of your home, write or make holiday-themed cards for families in need and drop them off or mail them to us. We will then give them to children and their families to start their winter holiday season with cheer. And include a grocery store gift card with each holiday card.
 
MISSION

The mission of LA’s BEST is to provide a safe and supervised afterschool education, enrichment and recreation program for children ages 5 to 12 in Los Angeles. All children, no matter their neighborhood or circumstances, should be safe after school. But they also deserve more — they deserve a place where they can learn and thrive through social, emotional, intellectual and physical engagement with caring adults and dynamic experiences. 

IMPACT
Unfortunately, many students in the after school program  are experiencing homelessness, loss of parents, health issues or worse. This season can be tough on families this time of year, financially and emotionally. Through your cards and donation of grocery store gift cards, they'll know that this holiday season, there's someone out there thinking of them and wishing them well. They might even have the opportunity to have a special holiday meal to share with their families.
 
VOLUNTEER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Do:

• Cards must be received by Friday 12/02 to receive volunteer credit. (you'll receive mailing address upon signup)
• Keep it lighthearted and uplifting
• Write a secular and seasonal greeting with a “Happy Holidays,” a “Season’s Greetings,” or a "Happy New Year!" We want people of all faiths to be comfortable reading your card
• Feel free to get creative! Drawings and handmade cards are welcome (so long as no personal information is shared)
• Share general information about yourself, like your favorite things about the holidays (keep to no-cost activities, as to keep them in the holiday spirit)

Don't:

• Share personal information like your last name, birthday, contact info, or social handles
• Share any religious discussion
• Offer to buy or send them anything beyond this card/giftcard. Your kind words are very valuable and please trust that we are working on providing holiday gifts for them as well
• Mention their living situation or their status as experiencing homelessness/death/sickness etc. 
• Dwell on how hard their lives might be
• Criticize or judge their living situation
• Send pictures of yourself