Independent Staff Report
WEST HOLLYWOOD — The city of West Hollywood will continue its tradition of joining hundreds of communities across the country in a national day of service to commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr. Day federal holiday by providing an opportunity for community members to make an impact locally with a donation drive for people who are experiencing homelessness.
The city, in partnership with West Hollywood Elementary and Friends of West Hollywood Elementary, will collect monetary and gift card donations to support new socks, blankets and sleeping bags for the City’s West Hollywood Homeless Initiative, which partners with nonprofit service providers, the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and Los Angeles County agencies to provide services aimed at reducing homelessness and supporting community members who are experiencing homelessness.
This year’s day of service activity reflects the desire of students from West Hollywood Elementary to help those most in need in the community.
Due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the day of service will become a two-week virtual donation drive running from Jan. 16 to Jan. 31. Donations can be made online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/homeless or donations of physical gift cards or of personal checks made out to mailed to: West Hollywood Homeless Initiative/MLK Day of Service, West Hollywood City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069.
The day of service is part of a larger service learning project with West Hollywood Elementary that also will include virtual classroom visits from members of the City Council on Jan. 19, as well as the school’s “Lifting Our Voices” art contest, which aims to encourage students to reflect upon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, philosophy and the impact of the civil rights movement, through their own artistic expression.
All artwork submittals will be shared digitally with the community and the winning artwork will be displayed on a fence art banner sponsored by the city during Black History Month in February.
The city also is encouraging donations to the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Center, which has posted a “CARE 4 Youth Essentials” wish list on Amazon at lalgbtcenter.org/care4youth.
The city would have hosted its ninth annual clothing drive for the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Center this month, but due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the city is encouraging virtual donations of needed supplies that will be distributed to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth who are experiencing homelessness.
For more information about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, contact Larissa Fooks at (323) 848-6413.
