November Service Events in LA That Need YOU!
Source: Instagram: NationalKidneyFoundation
As we reach the end of October, we can begin to think about what the remaining months of 2015 have in store for us. This time marks the exciting start of the holidays—where gift giving, celebrations, food, and precious memories with friends and familyall await us. Why wait until Christmas to start giving? In Los Angeles, there is a ton of easy ways to give back to your community this holiday season! In return, you can expect to gain a rich, eye-opening experience with fun-filled memories to share!
Kicking off November is the nation’s largest walk to fight kidney disease at Griffith Park! The Los Angeles Kidney Walk raises awareness and funds to programs that support and educate those at risk of kidney disease. Because kidney disease is one of the top 10 leading public health problems, the NKF (National Kidney Foundation) is rallying up as many people as they can to help support the millions of Americans at risk! As of now, they have funded enough to reach about 50% of their goal—help support this organization by donating or participating at www.donatekidney.org.
Source: Facebook: Foundation Fighting Blindness
On November 7th, 2015, The Foundation Fighting Blindness hosts LA’s 9th annual Vision Walk, which raises money for organizations that fight against retinal degenerative diseases. With over 10 million Americans victimized by these diseases, the Foundation Fighting Blindness works to find cures through research in genetics, gene therapy, transplantation, and more. Over the years, the Foundation Fighting Blindness has partnered up with Genentech and Regeneron to make this incredible 5k walk possible. Help them reach to their goal of $110,000 by registering now at www.fightblindness.org!
Source: Heal the Bay
Every third Saturday of the month, you can be a part of the Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup, organized by the nonprofit environmental organization, Heal the Bay. They follow the motto, “when we heal the earth, we heal ourselves,” which represents their action to protect the coastal waters of Southern California. Through a variety of different projects, Heal the Bay addresses the issues of ocean pollution by educating and advocating the importance of beach cleanups! Not only is it easy, it also makes a HUGE impact on the animals that roam the beach. The next scheduled beach cleanup is going to be on November 21st at Playa Del Rey Beach, so don’t forget to sign your waiver form! It can be found at www.healthebay.org.
Source: Mustache Dache
November 22nd marks the most unique and fun-filled event of the month: The Los Angeles Mustache Dache! Embrace your inner Mario and Luigi at the nation’s leading mustache-themed race to support men’s health. Starting at the Gene Autry Museum, you can choose from a 5k or 10k running trail that goes through the beautiful Griffith Park. Although the Mustache Dache is not a nonprofit, it proudly supports ZERO, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization to end prostate cancer. In addition, every registered volunteer gets a Mustache Dache shirt, a finisher medal, and free professional photos! You can find registration information at www.mustachedache.com/los-angeles/.
Source: SPCR
Despite America being known as the “land of the plenty,” there are millions of people out on the street and living in poverty. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, what better way is there to give back to the community than serving food to the less fortunate? All over Los Angeles, you can find food kitchens looking for volunteers to help serve hungry citizens in our local neighborhoods. One of these is the Midnight Mission, an organization whose goals are to help men, women, and children suffering from homelessness. Every year, the Midnight Mission hosts their annual Thanksgiving feast, which tends to hundreds people affected by homelessness. In addition, volunteers can also buy an entire turkey for a family in need! To find more information, visit www.midnightmission.org.
The holidays are a reminder of our blessings, and it is important to remember that a helping hand goes a long way. Nonetheless, the winter months shouldn’t be the only time to give; there are plenty of opportunities all year round to help out your community! So grab a friend, and experience the joy in helping others.
-Katherine Nguyen