Operation Feed Skid Row
Donation protected
Dear allies in welfare progress,
Our names are Veronica Ramirez and Juan Jaime Ferrer and the name of the group we are looking to start is SOL. SOL is an abbreviation of both the English and Spanish term solidarity and solidaridad, respectively. We created this name with the intention to give it the double meaning of “unity among humanity for the welfare progress of each individual” and “a new beginning” as "sol" is the Spanish term for sun and the sun brings with it a new beginning each morning.
SOL was initiated for two reasons: 1) the determination of a groups of individuals to give back to their community and 2) the empathy we have for the homeless community. Because both of us were raised by families in a community marked by low-income and underprivileged circumstances we both understand life’s hardships and the impact that just one lending hand can have on an individual. As thus, our mission this year is “Operation Feed Skid Row”. Because homelessness is an issue we are really concerned with we hope to make this operation a yearly activity and expand SOL and its services.
Before we continue we would like to provide a few facts about Skid Row:
Skid Row is an area of Downtown Los Angeles defined as the population north of Seventh Street, south of Third Street, west of Alameda Street, and east of Main Street. The term Skid Row originated from the logging terms “Skidder” and “Skid Road”. In logging, greased skid roads were utilized by loggers to transport their logs down the river where they would wait passively until transportation arrived to take them to the logging camp. Because of the passive activity of waiting, the term skid row was integrated into urban talk to refer to any place where people with no money and nothing to do gather.
Skid Row is currently the largest stable population of homeless people in the United States - making it a third world city. In about a 55-block area it is the home of somewhere between 3,000 to 6,000 homeless individuals: men, women, children, immigrants from all over the world, transient migrant workers, older individuals, and just about anyone who has run out of luck and is living at the margins of society. Because of its vulnerable population Skid Row attracts a lot of crime from gangs and drug dealers. More recently however, it was confirmed to be a “patient dumping” site – where specific hospitals, in violation of the measures that should be taken, would leave homeless people in need of medical attention to their own luck. Thus, many individuals in need of physical and psychological help end up in the streets.
Because of the serious attention that this part of our community needs we have created this page to kindly ask you – our fellow associates in welfare health – to join our cause, and, if possible, to support our cause with any financial contribution you can give. Whether it be a few coins or a couple of bills, even the smallest contribution goes a long way.
With the monetary contributions received we are committed to create and distribute lunch / dinner to the Skid Row community. With your help we are committed to set this event forward two day after Thanksgiving 2015 on Saturday November 28 2015.
Right now you might be asking yourselves, “why should I contribute to the welfare of Los Angeles if it is not my community?” To that we would like you to consider that with Skid Row being our country’s largest stable homeless population it does impact all the United States. If nothing else, it is an issue about humanity as a whole.
We are reaching out to you in the hope of receiving any contribution that you can give. Our promise to you is that we will utilize the money raised solely for the purposes stated above. We also promise to update you on the event’s outcome / progress through the creation of a website or blog spot containing pictures and videos of the event.
Thank you for taking the time to read these words in their entirety, for your support, and for your contributions.
With appreciation and great wishes,
SOL
Further Information about Skid Row + VIDEO!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skid_Row,_Los_Angeles
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0604-homeless-count-20150604-story.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dumped-on-skid-row/
https://youtu.be/jeGFIL4BD_M (VIDEO!!!! PLEASE WATCH)
http://pacificforestfoundation.org/glossary.html
Our names are Veronica Ramirez and Juan Jaime Ferrer and the name of the group we are looking to start is SOL. SOL is an abbreviation of both the English and Spanish term solidarity and solidaridad, respectively. We created this name with the intention to give it the double meaning of “unity among humanity for the welfare progress of each individual” and “a new beginning” as "sol" is the Spanish term for sun and the sun brings with it a new beginning each morning.
SOL was initiated for two reasons: 1) the determination of a groups of individuals to give back to their community and 2) the empathy we have for the homeless community. Because both of us were raised by families in a community marked by low-income and underprivileged circumstances we both understand life’s hardships and the impact that just one lending hand can have on an individual. As thus, our mission this year is “Operation Feed Skid Row”. Because homelessness is an issue we are really concerned with we hope to make this operation a yearly activity and expand SOL and its services.
Before we continue we would like to provide a few facts about Skid Row:
Skid Row is an area of Downtown Los Angeles defined as the population north of Seventh Street, south of Third Street, west of Alameda Street, and east of Main Street. The term Skid Row originated from the logging terms “Skidder” and “Skid Road”. In logging, greased skid roads were utilized by loggers to transport their logs down the river where they would wait passively until transportation arrived to take them to the logging camp. Because of the passive activity of waiting, the term skid row was integrated into urban talk to refer to any place where people with no money and nothing to do gather.
Skid Row is currently the largest stable population of homeless people in the United States - making it a third world city. In about a 55-block area it is the home of somewhere between 3,000 to 6,000 homeless individuals: men, women, children, immigrants from all over the world, transient migrant workers, older individuals, and just about anyone who has run out of luck and is living at the margins of society. Because of its vulnerable population Skid Row attracts a lot of crime from gangs and drug dealers. More recently however, it was confirmed to be a “patient dumping” site – where specific hospitals, in violation of the measures that should be taken, would leave homeless people in need of medical attention to their own luck. Thus, many individuals in need of physical and psychological help end up in the streets.
Because of the serious attention that this part of our community needs we have created this page to kindly ask you – our fellow associates in welfare health – to join our cause, and, if possible, to support our cause with any financial contribution you can give. Whether it be a few coins or a couple of bills, even the smallest contribution goes a long way.
With the monetary contributions received we are committed to create and distribute lunch / dinner to the Skid Row community. With your help we are committed to set this event forward two day after Thanksgiving 2015 on Saturday November 28 2015.
Right now you might be asking yourselves, “why should I contribute to the welfare of Los Angeles if it is not my community?” To that we would like you to consider that with Skid Row being our country’s largest stable homeless population it does impact all the United States. If nothing else, it is an issue about humanity as a whole.
We are reaching out to you in the hope of receiving any contribution that you can give. Our promise to you is that we will utilize the money raised solely for the purposes stated above. We also promise to update you on the event’s outcome / progress through the creation of a website or blog spot containing pictures and videos of the event.
Thank you for taking the time to read these words in their entirety, for your support, and for your contributions.
With appreciation and great wishes,
SOL
Further Information about Skid Row + VIDEO!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skid_Row,_Los_Angeles
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0604-homeless-count-20150604-story.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dumped-on-skid-row/
https://youtu.be/jeGFIL4BD_M (VIDEO!!!! PLEASE WATCH)
http://pacificforestfoundation.org/glossary.html
Organizer
Veronica Ramirez
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA