By Daily Press staff
More than 100 people who would otherwise not enjoy the holiday with all the trimmings enjoyed a festive holiday earlier this month, thanks to a nonprofit and a beauty supply company.
Seventeen Neutrogena employees this month prepared and served more than 150 sit-down holiday turkey dinners with all the trimmings to veterans and staff in St. Joseph Center’s Veterans Representative Payee Program on the grounds of the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration.
For the third year in a row Neutrogena volunteers provided food, gift bags, and a decorated holiday tree. Veterans and Neutrogena staff also “jammed” together on musical instruments brought to the event.
“Several vets approached me afterwards to say ‘thank you’ with tears in their eyes,” says Nick Maiorino, director of St. Joseph Center’s money management services. “Neutrogena’s generosity and dedication is truly a gift to us all.”
St. Joseph Center has 11 programs on eight sites in Venice, Santa Monica, and West Los Angeles, providing emergency services, case management, childcare, job training, and senior services to homeless and low-income individuals in order to break the chain of poverty, so that they can achieve self-sufficiency.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 16, 2004. Read the original PDF.