MEND Poverty

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WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Become a friend to vulnerable families, the homeless, and struggling seniors today. Your generosity is a precious gift that makes a difference.

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Stories of Hope

NAVEEN

Naveen wasn't sure what he needed when he first noticed MEND. He'd spotted the building from a Metro bus window... people stepping off, lining up, being helped. One day, he decided to join them.

He needed help. He was homeless. He'd done time in jail. He wasn't sure what came next.

What he found at MEND wasn't just food or resources — though he found both. He found a team that looked at everything he'd been through and saw possibility, not a dead end. That mattered.

Motivated, Naveen enrolled in Gateways Employment Services, where he learned self-confidence... how to network, how to interview and how not to give up. Not long after, Naveen interviewed for and was offered a job with a welding company right across the street from MEND. A full-circle moment that started with simple curiosity and the courage to take the first step off the bus.

That Gateways job coach who listened every day... the career closet shirt and pants he wore to the interview... that second chance, your support made all of it possible. And right now, someone else is riding a bus, looking out the window, wondering if they should get off.

OUR PROGRAMS

MEND serves the poorest families & individuals in the San Fernando Valley; meeting their most immediate basic needs and helping them build resources and skills to address and overcome long-term poverty.

COMMUNITY NOURISHMENT PROGRAMS

The COMMUNITY NOURISHMENT PROGRAMS (CNP) include a Food Bank, Food Pantry, Buen Provecho Farmer’s Market, and Little Health Market, that offer weekly, choice-driven access to fresh produce and culturally relevant pantry staples to approximately 32,000 unduplicated people (260,000 encounters of service) a year. CNP goes beyond food security to change ongoing nutrition security outcomes for vulnerable people. By ensuring that 70% of the food is fresh—fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins—we offer nutrition security, defined as consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being.

2,840,409

HEALTHY MEALS

3.6 Million

POUND OF FOOD

291,104

PEOPLE BENEFITED

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HOPE &

CARE

These support services offer resources, referrals, and system navigation for mental health services as well as supportive services, such as diapers, wipes, household items, utility assistance, personal care goods, housing support, and other necessities for families with children aged 0-5. Hope & Care also oversees our First Step services for the homeless and supports them with hygiene products, clean clothing, and curated food bags, along with referrals to additional services.

260,547

PEOPLE
BENEFITED

71,900

DIAPERS
DISTRIBUTED

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HERE WE THRIVE

HERE WE THRIVE - This hub of support offers a range of services tailored to the varying needs of our community, from emergency essentials to individualized coaching:

1:1

SERVICES
PROVIDED

Connections Resource Coordination: This service assists participants with navigating external social services such as utility assistance, public benefits, legal services, childcare resources, and more—ensuring access to support that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Pathways to Wellness: Focused on addressing chronic diet-related illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, Pathways helps participants make sustainable changes for better wellness.

Gateways Employment Services: Designed for job seekers facing significant barriers, Gateways offers two avenues to success: Self-directed activities and one-on-one coaching with an employment specialist.

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FIRST STEP HOMELESS SERVICES

Hope & Care also oversees our First Step services for the homeless and supports them with hygiene products, clean clothing, and curated food bags, along with referrals to additional services.