Next Round of Let's Read starting Jan 21 - Sign up Now!

Want to make a real impact on Kids' lives? L.A. Works' Let's Read Program is a program whose purpose is to provide kids with the tools to help them reach their dreams. We work individually and as a group, with kids' school-related materials, as well as try to expose them to other topics that they may not otherwise encounter. If you like kids and wish to develop a relationship with one or a few of them, this program can be one of our most rewarding.

Volunteers in this program must commit to the full 10 week session on consecutive Saturday mornings Jan 21 - March 25 from 10:00 a.m. - noon. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Volunteers will develop a mentoring relationship with kids during the ten week semester.

The Let's Read program takes place at two locations:

Pueblo Del Rio in central Los Angeles. Click here to sign up! If you've never volunteered for Let's Read at Pueblo Del Rio, you must also sign up for the orientation session for new Let's Read volunteers on January 14. Click here to sign up for orientation.

Mar Vista Gardens in Culver City. Click here to sign up for the 10-week session, January 21 - March 25.

Get Trained to assist in Los Angeles Disasters and Emergencies

L.A. Works encourages its members to attend Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. This all-risk, all hazard training, presented by the Fire Dept trains you to assist conventional emergency response teams in times of crisis and emergency. Training is offered in locations all over Los Angeles.

The training is a seven session course (one day a week for seven weeks), and is provided free of charge. The next round of classes begins in January 2006. For more details click here.

Share your Holiday Volunteering Stories

More people volunteer during the holidays than any time of the year. We'd love to hear your stories of why volunteering is important to you during this season. Have you had a great volunteer experience that has enriched your holiday? Click on the comments link and tell us your experiences!

Here's Another New Thanksgiving Referral - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

Wow. Thanksgiving requests are coming in quickly. Do you live in Long Beach / South Bay area? This one is a referral to "For the Child". They need volunteers to help prep and distribute Thanksgiving meals this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. It's very short notice, but I know they'd appreciate some help.

Click here to let us put you in touch with "For the Child".

New Thanksgiving Day project added to calendar

We've just gotten a call asking for 10 volunteers on Thanksgiving Day. It's short notice, but we know there's a lot of you looking for a chance to help out on Thanksgiving Day. Here's the Project Details:

The Hollywood Senior Multipurpose Center needs 10 volunteers to help deliver Thanksgiving holiday meals to homebound seniors in the Hollywood & Silverlake area. Delivery times will be from 8:00 am - noon.

This project will be supervised by the HSMC staff, rather than the L.A. Works Project Leader since volunteers will all be working seperately on deliveries.

Volunteers must have their own vehicle and be able to deliver 10-12 meals.

Click here to sign up for this project.

What has volunteering done for you?

We're anxious to hear stories from L.A. Works volunteers about the impact volunteering has had on your life. Do you have a great volunteer experience to share? Your personal story might be the very thing that inspires someone else to make a difference!

Click on the comment button below and tell us your volunteer stories. We'll print the best of them in upcoming issues of our monthly newsletter.

Hot Project of the Week - November 5

Here's a one-time project we're doing with the Wildlife Waystation in the Angeles National Forest. They need our help painting den boxes and building animal ramps as part of their facility renovation.

The Wildlife Waystation is a 160-acre animal sanctuary that rescues and provides sanctuary to wild and exotic animals from around the world.

Click here to sign up for Saturday, Nov 5, from 9am - noon.

New Project Added to Calendar

Starting November 15 we have a great new project working with kids in North Hollywood at the Sydney M Irmas Transitional Housing Shelter.

"Join us for a fun-filled evening spent with children who are all smiles and excitement! Whether it be a night of arts and crafts, karaoke, board games, or story time, you will definitely make an impact in the lives of these wonderful kids (ages 6-12)!

The LA Family Housing, Sydney M. Irma Transitional Living Center strives to provide a safe, caring, and service-rich environment that helps homeless families and individuals rebuild their lives. The agency has 20 facilities serving over 7,300 people annually in eight different regions of Los Angeles."

Click here to sign up for this great new project. Thanks to Project Leader Sherly Lam for starting up this new opportunity to help kids in need.

L.A. Works exhibits at California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women & Families

Come see us in Long Beach on Oct 27.We'll be exhibiting at the Hands on Network booth in the Volunteer Village in the Long Beach Convention Center. Come say hello and find out more about how to get involved with L.A. Works.

HOT PROJECT: "Pumpkins for Peace" Needs volunteers this Friday Night, Oct 21

The Center for Non-Violent Education and Parenting had to make a last minute change and move their project from Saturday to this Friday, Oct 21 from 6-8pm. The project had been full, but due to the date change we are suddenly short volunteers to assist with child care and youth group supervision.

Are you free tomorrow on Friday night. The kids could use your help!

While their parents at the center attend a "Day of Dialogue" about non-violent parenting, the children 2 to 8 years old participate in a quality child care program with art activities and storytelling of books relating to non-violence. Children 9 to 18 years meet to learn and do activities concerning conflict resolution. Volunteers are needed for both groups to supervise and play with the children/youth. Some of the activities with the children may take place out of doors, so please dress accordingly. The program for Oct 21 is "Pumpkins for Peace".

Click here to sign-up. Thanks!

Hot Project of the Week

This Saturday, October 22nd is our monthly Adopt a Highway, Protect a Bay project with the Santa Monica Baykeepers. We need more volunteers to help!

A clean ocean starts with clean streets and sidewalks. That's why we meet once a month to clean up a stretch of Lincoln Blvd in Marina Del Rey.

Come out and meet new people as you get some exercise and do rewarding volunteer work that will have a lasting effect on the health of the bay.

There's a lot of litter out there on Lincoln - come help us keep it out of the storm drain and out of the Santa Monica Bay. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

Click here to sign up!

Make a Difference Day

Make A Difference Day is a national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 22, 2005.

Millions have participated. In 2004, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns.

If you're looking for a volunteer opportunity for Make A Difference Day, check our project calendar for October 22, 2005.