KARSH FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER INC

FOOD PANTRY - THE FOOD PANTRY IS A MODERN, WELCOMING, AND THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED FACILITY, ARRANGED TO COMPLY WITH THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK GUIDELINES, WITH AMPLE STORAGE SPACE FOR DRY, REFRIGERATED, AND FROZEN FOODS. THE KARSH CENTER CAN COMFORTABLY PROVIDE MORE THAN 700 GROCERY BAGS WEEKLY. WE ALSO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 25 FAMILIES DELIVERING GROCERY BAGS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT PHYSICALLY VISIT THE FOOD PANTRY. THE FACILITY IS ALSO SPACIOUS ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE VOLUNTEERS WHO USE THE PANTRY TO ASSEMBLE AND DISTRIBUTE HEALTHY GROCERY BAGS FOR CLIENTS IN NEED.

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT - THE COMMITMENT OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK AND SUCCESS OF THE KARSH FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER. ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS AS A KEY COMPONENT OF DELIVERING SERVICE ALLOWS THE KARSH CENTER TO BE A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WISHING TO BE OF SERVICE AND HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING CHALLENGES LIKE FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY, AND MORE. BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION OF WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE CONGREGANT VOLUNTEERS, THE KARSH CENTER VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER LOS ANGELES, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AN ARRAY OF PROFESSIONALS SHARING PRO -BONO TIME, AND, INCREASINGLY, MEMBERS OF THE KOREATOWN COMMUNITY WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THE KARSH CENTER IS A PILLAR IN SUPPORTING THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. WE HOST RECURRING WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS, SPECIAL EVENT/ONE-TIME VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, AND STUDENT AND COMMUNITY INTERNS. IN SPRING 2024, WE OPENED THE KARSH TIKKUN OLAM SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER IN BRENTWOOD AS A HUB OF VOLUNTEERISM ON THE WESTSIDE, FURTHER EXPANDING THE REACH AND IMPACT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. ACROSS ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEERS RANGE FROM 3 YEARS OLD TO OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND THEY SHARE THEIR TIME BOTH ON-SITE AND THROUGH REMOTE PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES RANGE FROM PACKING GROCERY BAGS AND MAKING SANDWICH LUNCHES TO DOING OUTREACH TO CLIENTS AND COMPLETING DATA ENTRY, AND SO MUCH MORE. ACROSS THESE ACTIVITIES, WE ENGAGED AROUND 482 VOLUNTEERS IN FY23-24.