When Ivy and Waldo began their year of service at the Friends In Deed Food Pantry, they expected to give their time. What they didn’t expect was how much the experience would reshape the way they see community, generosity, and their own future. Ivy and Waldo are both students at Glendale Community College. They were […]
The People Behind the Pantry: Ivy and Waldo’s Story Read More »
EmpowerHER is Friends In Deed’s annual fundraising event highlighting the work of The Women’s Room, and each March, it brings the community together in honor of Women’s History Month. This year’s EmpowerHER gathering felt different from the moment it began. In the past, the series spanned multiple events. This year, it was distilled into a
Where Voices Rise: Inside This Year’s EmpowerHER Read More »
When LucÃa first came to The Women’s Room at Friends In Deed, she kept to herself. A Spanish speaker, she didn’t feel comfortable engaging with staff or other guests. Days passed quietly. Then weeks. She observed from a distance, unsure if this was a place she could trust. Someone suggested she speak with Jenny, the
You Belong Here: LucÃa’s Journey from Isolation to Inclusion Read More »
On the first Tuesday of every month, something simple, yet meaningful, arrives at The Women’s Room: lunch, prepared and delivered by a group of women who call themselves the Altadena Book Lovers. They started, as many book clubs do, with a shared love of reading. Back in 2018, they were just a handful of strangers
The Altadena Book Lovers: Serving Warmth and Care Read More »
Isaac Arreola meets people where they are both literally and figuratively. As Friends In Deed’s Harm Reduction Specialist on the Street Outreach and Housing team, Isaac is often the first point of contact for individuals living on the streets. He doesn’t judge or demand change overnight. He builds trust, one conversation at a time. Isaac
Meeting People Where They Are: How Isaac Builds Trust Through Harm Reduction Read More »
Chris’s connection to Friends In Deed began long before he ever joined the Board of Directors. Growing up in Pasadena, Chris spent time volunteering alongside his parents, who were deeply involved in the local community. One of his earliest memories of service involved painting a room for Friends In Deed through the Knights of Columbus,
Giving Back with Purpose: Why Chris Joined the Board of Directors Read More »
On January 7th, around 8:00 p.m., I noticed a large fire coming from the Aldi’s in Altadena. I immediately went back to the house because I could feel how close the fire already was. Shortly after that, evacuation orders began coming through, and we evacuated that night. The next day, January 8th, something told me
Sabrina’s First-Hand Account of Loss and Support Read More »
Antywon is a Pasadena native, someone well-known and deeply rooted in his community. When the Pasadena Outreach Response Team (PORT) reached out to Friends In Deed’s Street Outreach and Housing team, they did so with care and urgency. They knew Antywon well. They knew his journey had been long and difficult. And they knew he
Building Stability: Antywon’s Journey Forward Read More »
For many women who walk through the doors of The Women’s Room, Rosie is the first person they meet. As Program Attendant, Rosie is the steady, welcoming presence at check-in: greeting guests, helping them complete intake forms, and introducing them to the space downstairs where they can access laundry, showers, and a quiet place to
Where Welcome Begins: Rosie’s Story Read More »
When Alex first found The Women’s Room, it wasn’t through a referral or a personal connection; it was a Google search. She was an occupational therapy graduate student looking for a site for her capstone project, drawn by a clear intention: she wanted to work directly with women, in a community setting, and with a
Bridging Gaps Through Purpose and Community: OT Intern, Alex, Shares her Story Read More »
