<p>Ok, I am done. I am done with the whole college thing, done with basically high school, done with every single test to be taken. With free time, I started to visit downtown Los Angeles and check out places (city hall, the huge buildings, swap meets) I have really never been to. I saw that there is a lot of poverty in Los Angeles. Is there any way I can help these people? My friends and I are trying to collect clothes, books, and money to help people in poverty but we do not know where to start. help please.</p>
<p>p.s: If you guys think I’m doing this for college, that is ridiculous. I was already accepted to the college of my choice so there is no need to think I’m doing this for college. I’m just trying to help out my city before I leave.</p>
<p>It’s wonderful that you care so much about helping people in your city. Obviously, there’s a lot of need, and you can’t address everything.</p>
<p>My suggestion is that you think about what kind of people you’d most want to help: babies? preschoolers? elementary school kids? teens? homeless? children of prisoners or addicts? Elderly? People who are jobless but lack the clothes to get employment?</p>
<p>Anyway, zero in on one group and then check with either an organization that helps them (for instance calling a Head Start program or the Guidance office of a school that’s in a poor area) and ask for suggestions.</p>
<p>If schools are still in session, perhaps you and friends could “adopt” a kindergarten or first grade and give each child a picture book on the last day of school. Another suggestion might be to collect used childrens books and create a children’s library at a homeless shelter or battered women’s shelter. </p>
<p>An idea that I heard of today was that some volunteers got together and did makeovers for people in a homeless shelter. The volunteers arranged for a beauty school to give haircuts, manicures and massages to the homeless, and each homeless person was assigned a volunteer who took them to their appointments (which were at the shelter). </p>
<p>Being treated as valuable human beings apparently really touched the hearts of the homeless. </p>
<p>Here’s a link to some fundraising ideas: <a href=“http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/index.html[/url]”>http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/index.html</a></p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I am trying to help families that are barely suviving. In fact, when I was visiting downtown, I met a clerk at a sandwich shop and he said that working in this shop is his 3rd job! amazing how people survive. So really, I’m just tryign to reach out to families who are in deep poverty. really, the only thing me and my friends could think of is to collect clothes and books to help out families. THe whole point is I’m just trying to ease families’ hardships. </p>
<p>The above website gave me some ideas. I am thinking of creating an organization to help out. If you guys have any more ideas how I can create one so I can help some people out before i leave for college, I would really appreciate it.</p>
<p>There are so many organizations out there I would suggest you spend your energy working with one that is already established instead of taking time to start something new. I know I’m nowhere near you but in our nearby city there are womens shelters for abused women, soup kitchens, shelters, etc. Why not just check the blue pages in your phone book and look under family services. I’m looking at a phonebook for a city close to me and it has dozens of organizations listed.</p>