Fighting poverty with a winning team

MEND's "Seed to Supper" program is just one of its many volunteer-driven initiatives.

The Pacoima-based anti-poverty organization MEND says that volunteers are the “lifeblood” of their agency—and they’d love a transfusion of your time and energy.

MEND, which stands for Meet Each Need with Dignity, recently was named California’s Nonprofit of the Year by the Office of the Governor and CaliforniaVolunteers. The award honors a group that has shown “an extraordinary ability to leverage volunteers in service to their organization.”

In the case of MEND, more than 3,000 volunteers help with everything from a clothing center and emergency food bank to dental, vision and medical clinics. The organization also offers a range of training and educational programs, including after-school tutoring. Special initiatives include a “Seed to Supper” program in which young people attend Saturday sessions to learn about gardening and nutrition, culminating in a “harvest celebration supper.”

If you’d like to sign up to help MEND in any capacity, more information is here. They also need contributions of clothes, food, toiletries, educational supplies and other goods. And, of course, financial help is always welcome.

Posted 8/3/12