Support Friends in Deed in Pasadena, CA and Help Low and No-Income Individuals

By Staci Glovsky on May 9th, 2020 in Community, Coronavirus Resources

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted all Californians and has been especially difficult on those in the low and no-income range. Friends in Deed in Pasadena, CA helps these individuals. Friends in Deed continues to serve this population during the coronavirus pandemic. Helen Angove, Operations Manager, said, “We want people to know that while we’ve changed how we work, we are still working and getting a lot done. We are adapting to new conditions and are figuring things out as we go. We’re ensuring that people who rely on us for help continue to receive this help.” And Friends in Deed certainly provides needed help to others.

Learn more about this amazing organization and about how you can help below.

Who is Friends in Deed?

Friends in Deed began as a collaboration of Pasadena congregations in 1894. This interfaith organization has a mission “to provide supportive services to meet basic human needs, so our homeless and at-risk neighbors can rebuild their lives.” Its vision of its role in Pasadena is “doing together what we cannot do alone.” It is about compassion, connection and dignity. Friends in Deed runs several helpful programs including The Food Pantry, The Women’s Room, Bad Weather Shelter, Homeless Prevention and Street Outreach.

The Food Pantry

The Food Pantry provides food assistance to low-income and no-income families in the greater Pasadena and Altadena areas. Its households are comprised of “working poor” individuals, senior citizens and people with disabilities on fixed incomes, and those who are experiencing homelessness. The Pantry provides food to more than 345 households, over 725 people, each week.

The Pantry is set up like a neighborhood market where people enter and select their groceries. With coronavirus, instead of entering the building, people receive pre-packed bags as they wait outside.

The Food Pantry receives a lot of its food from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The organization also works with local organizations and businesses including Food Forward, Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, Grocery Outlet and more. Another large source of food is community groups and individuals who donate directly to Friends in Deed.

The Women’s Room

The Women’s Room (TWR) is the only organization in the San Gabriel Valley dedicated to serving women who are alone and homeless and at risk of homelessness. TWR provides a daytime refuge and gives these women strength and a means to preserve.

The program includes supportive services and basic needs including a shower, laundry, and healthy food. Even during the lock down, the program is finding ways to continue to provide these services.

Bad Weather Shelter

The Pasadena Bad Weather Shelter (BWS) provides overnight shelter and a hot meal for homeless individuals during the winter season. BWS is weather activated (a forecast of 40 degrees or below and/or 40% chance of rain).

Homeless Prevention

The Homeless Prevention (HP) program provides short-term and medium-term rental support. It provides move-in assistance to individuals and families on the brink of becoming homeless. HP also provides clients with needed services that help sustain their current housing situation. The program provides tips on how to navigate the pitfalls of the affordable and permanent supportive housing systems. This program benefits almost 70 individuals and families each year.

The Homeless Prevention program is critical. Studies show that keeping someone housed is cheaper and more effective than getting them rehoused after they have become homeless.

Street Outreach

In this program, Friends in Deed’s team identifies chronically homeless people on the streets of Pasadena. Street Outreach (SO) works to build trust and relationships with these individuals. SO’s primary goal is to enter these people into the Coordinated Entry System, a pathway to permanent supportive housing.

In the process, SO provides vital needs like new socks or hot meals. The team connects individuals to shelters, pantries, physical and mental health services, and legal aid. They are advocates, referral agents, housing locators, and housing navigators. The team champions the un-housed and works to end homelessness on the streets of Pasadena.

How can you help right now?

• Give a donation online. The organization is in urgent need of cash donations. You can go here to donate online.
• Make a cash or check donation. You can mail a check donation to PO Box 41125, Pasadena, CA 91114-8125. You can drop off a check or cash at the 444 E. Washington Blvd. Pasadena 91104 location on Fridays and Saturdays, 8.30am – 4pm.  Please make all checks payable to “Friends In Deed.” If you have any questions, please call 626-797-2402.
• Donate food. You can drop off food (and gloves, face masks and sanitizer) at Friends in Deed’s office at 444 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91114-8125. To avoid crowding and improve safety, please drop off on Fridays and Saturdays, 8.30 am-4 pm. When you bring your donations, a staff member or volunteer will help you unload your car. Note that the most needed foods right now include rice, pasta, cereal, canned goods, and other shelf-stable pantry staples. Other items include peanut butter, canned tuna, canned chicken, cooking oil, sugar and flour. Friends in Deed is happy to accept fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and other proteins, and dairy or other foods that need refrigeration. You can learn more about “Needed Foods” here.

You can learn more about Friends in Deed on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

We are incredibly grateful to Friends in Need for the amazing work it does. And we greatly appreciate you supporting this much needed organization.

For other helpful information, please see the Coronavirus Resources page on The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky website.