The We in Me: Community Care Kits

822 East 3rd Street,Los Angeles CA 90013

14 November, 2021

Description

Families, join homeLA artist Emily Marchand and advocate Caitlyn Montgomery in packing hygiene kits for our unhoused neighbors. The We in MeCommunity Care KitsYou and your family are invited to join homeLA during National Homelessness Awareness Month for The We in Me: Community Care Kits. The We in Me is homeLA’s pilot education program that considers homelessness through the lens of empathy with several programs in November. Our Community Care Kits event is an opportunity for parents and their school-aged children to spend meaningful time together assembling hygiene kits for their neighbors experiencing homelessness. Our hope is that, in offering a network for care (where everyone helps each other), this event strengthens our capacity to embody empathy towards others, because empathy is an emotional pathway to action. Community Care Kits is a free outdoor family event. It will be facilitated by homeLA collaborator, artist and activist, Emily Marchand and organizer and advocate, Caitlyn Montgomery. The two have been working together for years to bring more essential resources to Angelenos living in Skid Row by finding creative ways to energize their communities into supporting people experiencing homelessness. Our goal is to raise enough funds to prepare at least 500 kits for distribution across multiple service organizations in Skid Row, including Downtown Women's Center, Brown Bag Lady, and Inner City Arts. At a cost of $12 per kit, please consider donating to our fund for bulk supplies via Venmo @emily-marchand. You will find more information about the kits in the FAQ section below. Admission to the event is free and requires a timed-entry reservation. Each timed entry slot will support 8 groups of 8 people. We request 1 adult per 2 kids, so the event stays child-centered. We encourage pods of 8 to order tickets. Ways you can help us help our unhoused neighborsEach kit costs $12 to make. Please consider making a donation to support hygiene items. Venmo @emily-marchand. Subject: homeLAGet a group together, register and participate in our Community Care Kit event.Create an artwork for and/or write a letter to be included in the hygiene kit. Mail before Nov 6th to: The Box, 805 Traction Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013FAQHow do I talk to my kids about homelessness? An empathetic approach to talking to kids about homelessness and poverty goes a long way. Here are some great articles to help you with that process. “What do I say?” How to talk to kids about homelessness Talking With Children About Poverty and Homelessness How to talk to your kids about homelessness How To Talk Homelessness With Your Kids How to Talk to Your Kids About Homelessness What are hygiene kits? Hygiene Kits are personal toiletry items for health and wellbeing. Our hygiene kits will include items, such as: shampoo, conditioner, soap/body wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand lotion, socks, deodorant, chapstick, sunscreen, hand sanitizer , face masks , comb, nail clippers, hand towels, first aid kit, and q-tips. Why are you accepting donations instead of items? We are artists, advocates and small organizations who are concerned about our carbon footprint. Receiving your generous donation makes it easier for us to buy in bulk to reduce waste. Our family would like to donate items. What do you suggest? We would be happy to accept these new and unopened items in all sizes: feminine hygiene items (like pads and tampons), underwear, and socks. Alternatively, if you or someone you know can donate 500 of one item listed on our list, please contact us at [email protected]. We will be happy to assist you with this donation. What safety precautions are being done? We are interested in keeping everyone safe. To do so, we are following LA County Department of Public Health orders as they are updated. Currently, we are maintaining the safety measures described below. Face Masks Required Indoors: All visitors over the age of two must wear a proper face mask over their nose and mouth when inside buildings to use bathrooms. In our desire to create communities of care, we are asking that all participants wear their masks outdoors, as there will be unvaccinated children at this event. Cleaning: High-touch surfaces such as door handles will be cleaned regularly. So are the workstations. Restrooms are being cleaned after each time slot. Hand Sanitizer: You will find hand sanitizer near doors and other high-touch areas. Gloves will also be provided to perform packing. This programming is made possible through a partnership with The Box and The Box artists, Corazón del Sol and Los Angeles Poverty Department; and, in part, from a grant by the California Arts Council. homeLA is fiscally-sponsored by Fulcrum Arts