There are many things that we do throughout the day, week, month and we are on this never-ending path of busy-ness. It’s inevitable because we feel like we have to “maintain” or life will pass us by. Or we have to do the things we do because that’s just the “thing to do”. Many of these things are legitimate such as going to work, studying for class, earning a living, providing for our children, making sure the bills are paid. We feel the pain of rising gas prices, missing a Groupon deal, receiving an incorrect special order, getting upset that so-and-so got eliminated from our favorite TV competition, etc.
It’s so easy to get caught up with everything going on around us because this is the life that we’ve created for ourselves. I’m not going to fault anyone for living the life they do because I am the first one to scream at my TV when Kobe doesn’t pass the ball to Pau Gasol for an open layup. Or complain when I should’ve got gas when I saw it for $4.07 and now I have to get it for $4.09.
We all have our own bag of hammers and most of us can recover from most of our trials. But there are quite a bit of people in our own backyard that have lost their way and don’t know how to “maintain”, or keep up with life. On a nightly basis, they find shelter underneath the beautiful 3rd Street bridge that leads thousand of people into the big city. They wear a 1988 Lakers Back-to-Back championship T-shirt but only because they received it from a local donation drive. They are unable to receive proper medical care because for whatever reason they do not qualify and don’t have anyone to help them out. A pregnant mother is left to fend for herself because her abusive boyfriend left her on the streets.
Somehow they’ve become disconnected, they are overwhelmed from the pressures of life and have lost hope. Whether it was a string of bad decisions or the unlucky cards they were dealt, they still deserve someone to help them out with basic life necessities.
I could easily grab a few coins out of my ashtray and hand them to the guy at the end of the offramp and call it a day. However, I want to do more to get involved so I can help someone get that smile back on their face. They need to know that people are out there that care about them and want to see them succeed.
My sister has been involved in a few organizations and most specifically, The Downtown Women’s Center. They have been providing help for women in need since 1978 and when I visited the facilities I was amazed at how much they offer for women who need shelter and support. They provide a safe place to do their laundry, grab a healthy meal, teach them how to cook, and organize programs to help women become self-sufficient again. As I spoke with Annah, the Social Enterprise Coordinator at the Center, I was amazed at how much they provide for the women in the Downtown LA area and the resources they have to help women regain their confidence and dignity.
They are getting ready to launch a boutique store that showcases the handmade jewelry, beautiful succulents, candles and pottery MADE by the women who are ready to develop their job skills in order to re-enter the workforce. I was recently given the privilege to photograph some of the creative pieces they will be selling in their store. Check out the women’s work below and if you’re in the Downtown LA area make sure to stop by and browse the shop.
Congrats to the women, volunteers and all that have helped launch MADE by DWC. I look forward to giving more of our time to helping out the women at the center!
If you’re interested, here is their information:
www.dwcweb.org
MADE by dwc
