Pathways Potluck Picnic Dinner in the Park 2016. (Photo courtesy of Craig Shinmon, Pathways to Volunteering)
Boo’s Philly “Restoring Dignity, Rebuilding Hope” Flyer.
Boo’s Philly has teamed up to help spread the word on Pathways to Volunteering’s Feminine Hygiene Product Drive for Homeless Women. The event is tomorrow, August 4, 2018, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Boo’s Philly Cheesesteaks in Koreatown.
The afternoon of “community, giving, and chowing down on the most authentic Philly cheesesteaks & hoagies in LA!” includes a drive to gather items that will be assembled into feminine hygiene product kit gift bags for homeless women in Los Angeles.
Those who donate items from the list of products needed will get 10% off their entire purchase at Boo’s Philly Cheesesteaks during the event. There will also be a raffle for a $40.00 gift card from Boo’s.
Andrew Ahn of Boo’s Philly, inspired by his family’s desire to find a good Philly Cheesesteak in Los Angeles, opened their first Boo’s Philly store in 2011.
Immigrants from Seoul, South Korea to the New Jersey 1979, Ahn’s parents soon sought to own a small cheesesteak/deli shop in Collingswood, New Jersey in the early 80’s.
“My father would take orders, cook cheesesteaks, and make hoagies, all the while having my sister and myself tied to his waist. Unbeknownst to them, this would prove to be [an] invaluable experience for what would transpire thirty years later,” said Ahn on their website.
After moving to Los Angeles, Ahn sought to create a shop with “LEGIT” Philly Cheesesteaks, where they currently have three stores including one at The Forum, to make his family, himself, and Los Angeles happy.
Craig Shinmon, Founder and Director of Pathways to Volunteering, a 501(c)3 organization that provides an entry point to volunteering as well as promoting causes for women and children, said, “We like to create our own sort of signature programs that are unique and have sort of a twist.”
Pathways is designed as ‘an entry point to volunteering’, according to Shinmon, where all someone has to do is “click a button” in order to make it easy to volunteer, where the non-profit works with other non-profits and organizations like Union Rescue Mission, Downtown Women’s Center, One Incredible Family, and more.
Items needed for the Feminine Hygiene Kits are:
Tampons (4)
Overnight Maxi Pads with Wings (4)
Panty Liners (4)
Hand Sanitizer (1-Travel size)
Quart Size Ziploc Bags Each kit
Each kit will be packed in a plastic zipper bag with a handwritten note of encouragement.
Food Service for Students 2018 (Photo courtesy of Craig Shinmon, Pathways to Volunteering)
According to Pathways To Volunteering website and city reports, “there are over 58,000 homeless people living in the Los Angeles County. It is estimated that Skid Row’s population ranges from 8,000 to 11,000 people.”
In 2017 the homeless count reported that women made up 23% of the people living on Skid Row. Homeless women typically know where to find a safe place to sleep or a hot meal to eat. But when it comes to taking care of their feminine hygiene needs, they often resort to using things like socks, plastic products, food bags, and leaves.
The campaign “Restoring Dignity, Rebuilding Hope” involves assembly of the feminine hygiene kits for homeless women to fill the need lacking in the community. All made kits will go to the women of Union Rescue Mission where URM houses 1,100 people in their Downtown location.
Downtown Women’s Center with prepared, cooked, and served lunches (120 plates served) in 2017 (Photo courtesy of Craig Shinmon, Pathways to Volunteering)
The Feminine Hygiene Kit Assembly & Donation Drop will be Saturday, August 11, 2018, beginning at 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. for set-up with the drop of at Iglesia De La Comunidad Presbyterian Church 115 N. Avenue 53 Los Angeles, CA 90042. Assembly & clean-up will be from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. If you do your own collect drive you can join the feminine hygiene kit assembly or drop off between 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
If you want to donate products but are unable to drop on the day of the Assembly contact Craig at pathwaysmeetup@gmail.com to arrange for pick-up or for any other questions.
Monetary donations always welcome and they’ll shop for you and you can contact pathwaysmeetup@gmail.com. You can also visit www.beginyourpath.org for more details or for more info on volunteering on upcoming events:
Saturday, August 4, 2018 – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Feminine Hygiene Kit Product Drive at Boo’s. Donate Products.
Saturday, August 11, 2018 – 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Restoring Dignity, Rebuilding Hope
Feminine Hygiene Kit Assembly
Sunday, August 19, 2018 – 9:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Cook Lunch at the Downtown Women’s Center
In Honor of 9/11 Victims and Heroes
The Midnight Mission
Dinner Service
Sunday, September 23, 2018 – 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Project Angel Food
To sign up to volunteer or to get notifications on any of these and future events, you can also join their Meetup or Facebook.
Pathways to Volunteering Picnic on June 2, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Craig Shinmon, Pathways to Volunteering)
