CONNECTQuarterly Hygiene Kit Builds Events to benefit our Unhoused Neighbors
Our FLOWVEMBER hygiene kit build is easily our most impactful AND popular annual event. Our plan is to do this event quarterly, building 1000 hygiene kits at each event to be distributed by our community partners: SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, KTown for All, The Center in Hollywood. We're moving to a larger, ADA-accessible space, where we can host tabling for non-profit partners, encourage connection and community among volunteers, and invite speakers with lived experience to share their stories.
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Central LA
East LA
City of Los Angeles
In what stage of innovation is this project?
Expand existing program
What is the need you’re responding to?
Since 2017, we have been producing an annual volunteer and advocacy event: FLOWvember: a Menstrual Product Drive & period kit building event to benefit our unhoused neighbors.
We are leaning into what we do best: providing four thoughtfully curated volunteer events that connect and serve the community. We’ll focus on creating diverse, inclusive spaces accessible to everyone. We believe in curating volunteer events that are impactful, accessible, and inclusive. We’re producing hands-on opportunities that reflect our communities’ values and engaging events that directly help those in-need.
We’ll continue to focus on one cause: homelessness. By partnering with local non-profits doing direct outreach, and inviting people with lived experience to share their stories, we will give volunteers a comprehensive understanding of this issue and equip them to participate in local solutions.
Why is this project important to the work of your organization?
resisterhoodLA's annual FLOWVEMBER menstrual product drive & period kit build event is our most impactful AND popular event, reaching over 150 volunteers and producing 1000 hygiene kits. These hygiene kits contain basic hygiene items that provide our neighbors experiencing homelessness with tools to maintain their health and sense of dignity.
Since 2017, we have donated over 18,000 tampons to people experiencing homelessness, created 40 volunteer opportunities within our community, and donated $17,000 to local non-profits. Our group is committed to being inclusive and family-friendly.
We've connected with some of Los Angeles' most impactful non-profit groups doing work around homelessness: SELAH Neighborhood Coalition, KTown For All. Our goal is to use our event planning and community organizing superpowers to provide opportunities for volunteers who may not be able to do street outreach while creating a connection to this important work.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this proposal?
Direct Impact: 500
Indirect Impact: 4,000
Please describe the broader impact of your proposal.
At each event, we'll welcome 125-500 volunteers and train them to become advocates for their community. By hosting a non-profit fair, we'll introduce them to organizations & opportunities to broaden their impact. We'll demonstrate the importance of engaging in local neighborhood councils and with City Council representatives to affect change. By introducing volunteers to unhoused folks, we can work to eliminate fear & misconceptions that might be holding them back from getting involved.
4000 unhoused folks in our community will receive a hygiene kit. These hygiene kits contain basic hygiene items that provide our neighbors experiencing homelessness with tools to maintain their health and sense of dignity.
Please explain how you will define and measure success for your project.
Our plan is to host four events over the next year: August 2020, November 2020, February 2021, May 2021.
At each quarterly event, we will:
* Purchase wholesale hygiene products to build 1000-3000 hygiene kits for our unhoused neighbors
* Offer donate-what-you-can admission to make volunteering accessible & affordable for everyone in our community
* Invite speakers with lived experience to share their stories
* Secure an ADA-accessible space for 125+ volunteers and room for building community
* Host a non-profit fair for our community partners to meet new volunteers
Our measure of success will be building 4000+ kits with a goal of reaching over 500 unique volunteers annually. We're exploring ways of measuring volunteers' level of engagement post-event, with follow-up surveys. We'll stay connected with our non-profit partners throughout the year, keeping a record of kits distributed as well as adapting to the seasonal needs/requests of our unhoused neighbors.
Which of the CONNECT metrics will your submission impact?
Social and emotional support
Volunteerism
Are there any other LA2050 goal categories that your proposal will impact?
LA is the healthiest place to LIVE
Which of LA2050’s resources will be of the most value to you?
Access to the LA2050 community
Host public events or gatherings
Communications support
Strategy assistance and implementation