CA Flower Mall Sponsors Mother’s Day Gift Drive for Homeless Women
Downtown Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) May 02, 2016 -- “Mother’s Day flowers will brighten the lives of two thirds of U.S. Moms this weekend according to a report by the National Retail Federation. In stark contrast, 13,000 homeless women living on the streets of Los Angeles will have little if any Mother's Day cheer. California Flower Mall is grateful to be able to give the joy of Mother's Day flowers to Downtown Women’s Center participants. Teaming up with the LA Fashion District and the Blessing Bags-4-LA Homeless Women campaign to give bags of personal hygiene essentials to the Downtown Women’s Center helps us all because Mother's Day is the equivalent of Christmas for the flower trade,” says Mark Chatoff, owner and president of 45 vendor San Pedro St. wholesale flower market and a member of the Board of Directors of the LA Fashion District BID.
“Our mission is to have every homeless woman feel loved, cherished and recognized. We have met with homeless women’s shelters and compiled a list of the most important things desperately needed,” says Emily Blake, co-creator of the Blessing Bags-4-LA Homeless Women campaign. To contribute funds or donate items come to the California Flower Mall Blessing Bag station Saturday 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. or Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. People can donate funds anytime at https://www.gofundme.com/blessingbagsla.
Each blessing bag costs $25 to produce. It includes the following items in a roller-bag, backpack or tote bag:
Critical items:
Chapstick
Deodorant
Feminine napkins
Socks
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Hand sanitizer
Hats
Refillable water bottles
Healthy snacks (i.e. tangerines/clementines, soft fruit cereal bars, protein bars, etc.)
Additional items appreciated:
Nail polish
Makeup
Medium/large drawstring pajama bottoms
The blessing bags will be donated to the Downtown Women's Center a nationally recognized model for ending homelessness for women. They operate a wide range of wrap around services including a drop-in Day Center where about 200 women are served daily with essential services and a safe and welcoming space away from the rigors of the street. The DWC is the recipient of the gifts collected and donated by the campaign partners; it is not a sponsor of the drive.
The blessing bags GoFundMe campaign was birthed by a group of women led by Emily Blake and Debbie Welsch. “The collective vision is to create awareness of women’s homelessness and proven ways to end it. Our group wants to humanize homelessness, to decriminalize it and to focus resources on ending it. Homeless people have been through trauma and illnesses. They need help to get well, it’s not just their problem-- it’s everyone’s problem,” says Debbie Welsch a homeless women’s empowerment champion and urban designer for the real estate development firm Capital Foresight, LP. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the LA Fashion District BID.
“The Fashion District is proud to partner with the Blessing Bags-4-LA Homeless Women campaign and the California Flower Mall to help raise awareness for homelessness and quality of life issues affecting women in Downtown. It is an opportunity for the community to come together and help some of its most underserved members,” says Kent Smith, Executive Director of the LA Fashion District BID.
About California Flower Mall
The California Flower Mall, located at 825 San Pedro Street with parking at the 824 San Julian Street entrance, is one of the largest DIY wholesale flower marts in the eight block Downtown LA Flower District trade community -- the largest concentration of wholesale flower markets and flower businesses in the U.S. CFM is open 7 days a week to the trade and public. No admission fee is charged. See http://www.californiaflowermall.com for more details.
Mark Chatoff, California Flower Mall, http://www.californiaflowermall.com, +1 (310) 738-2441, [email protected]
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