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 »
Sometimes, calling someone “strong” is an easy way out. It can be easy to think that it matters less, if stressful and difficult things happen to a strong person, because they have the ability to cope with it. Friends In Deed Peer Specialist Angel Maxwell calls this idea out. “Life makes you strong,” she says,
Angel’s Story – Living Proof of Hope Read More »
Leslie has a long history of volunteering and serving on boards in various organizations in Pasadena. It was when she was volunteering at Jericho Road (a Pasadena organization that specializes in empowering and supporting local nonprofits) that Friends In Deed appeared on her radar – she was looking for new opportunities, and The Women’s Room
Leslie’s Story – A Burning Desire to End Homelessness Read More »
Following a career as a computer analyst, Emily wanted to do something useful with her retirement. She saw a message in one of our weekly emails about needing volunteers in the Food Pantry, made contact with Stacey, and joined the team. She says she loves it – the staff and other volunteers made her feel
Emily’s Story – Many Roles Read More »
Shaughna was living with her son, and it had become a domestic violence situation. Unlike many, Shaughna didn’t believe she would have any trouble leaving – she knew she had the skills to get a well-paying job. She walked out of the abusive situation in Las Vegas, and came to Pasadena for a fresh start.
Shaughna’s Story – Rents Too High Read More »
