About a decade ago, one of chiropractor Dr. Richard Cheung’s patients talked to him about a nonprofit he was involved in. Richard was interested in this nonprofit, particularly in its Bad Weather Shelter program, which was hosted by a church very close to his practice. So his patient invited him along on one of the […]
Richard’s Story – Put to Work Read More »
Liz is not typical of the volunteers we feature in this newsletter. For one thing, she has never actually volunteered at Friends In Deed! In fact, she works at Union Station Homeless Services, and is married to Friends In Deed staffer William Shelby – so she is practically one of the family. But back when
Liz’s Story – A Grass-Roots Initiative Read More »
Following a career as a deputy sheriff in the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, it turned out that JP wasn’t done with public service. Through his involvement with Pasadena First United Methodist Church he began volunteering with Friends In Deed’s Bad Weather Shelter many years ago – setting up cots and cooking and serving dinner
JP’s Story – Public Service Read More »
Brooke has been a dedicated volunteer in The Women’s Room (TWR) for eight years. Even during the pandemic lockdown she found a way to contribute: she was one of the volunteers who regularly called our clients to check how they were doing. Some of the ladies would talk for an hour or more, needing the
Brooke’s Story – Spiritual Practice Read More »
Ed’s story with Friends In Deed begins with his membership at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pasadena. He’s one of our longest serving board members – 11 years and counting – and he first became aware of Friends In Deed when he saw other members of Assumption Church donating
Ed’s Story – Getting the Bug Read More »
Najwa always looks put together. Her makeup, hair, and nails are always absolutely on point (Najwa is known for her glamorously bejeweled nails!), and her clothes coordinate, right down to her shoes and belts. You can already see the attention to clothing and hair in the photo of Najwa as a little girl – and
Najwa’s Story – Passing Hope Along Read More »
Jerry – a senior with a heart condition and a hearing impairment – had experienced homelessness for over 20 years. Originally from Tennessee, he has lived all around the greater Los Angeles area and could often be found panhandling outside Cheesecake Factory in Pasadena with his dog, Spot. The bond between Jerry and Spot is
Jerry’s Story – Forceful Advocacy Read More »
Sophie first became aware of Friends In Deed through her grandmother – FID Board Secretary Debby Singer! So when it came time to do her Bat Mitzvah project, she chose to do a sock drive for our Street Outreach and Housing team, knowing that clean dry socks are a wonderful gift to people on the
Sophie’s Story – Connecting Remotely Read More »
Richard was living on and off the streets for 15 years. Sometimes he managed to find seasonal work, and sometimes housing, but never anything permanent. One wet and miserable night he was getting a meal at Pasadena Presbyterian Church when he was told that the church across the road had access to motel rooms during
Richard’s Story – Coming Home Read More »
A whole slew of issues – including tinnitus, vertigo, anxiety, depression, substance use, and a series of harmful relationships – left Denise in a bad place. These, plus the skyrocketing cost of rent, made it impossible for her to find anywhere to live. She wasn’t prepared to part with her dogs (Arwen and Rebel) to
Denise’s Story – No Longer Fighting to Get a Shower Read More »
