By Daily Press staff
Volunteers from the Santa Monica-based Heartfelt Foundation held their annual Thanksgiving Fair last Saturday at St. Joseph Center in Venice, providing donations of food, games, face-painting, clowns and a petting zoo for low-income families on the westside.
Children jumped on a giant pillow and road Shetland ponies, while their parents received turkeys and food baskets contributed by volunteers like Victoria Block, who has been helping out at the foundation for 15 years.
“At Heartfelt we believe that every choice to respond when help is needed, every act of kindness extended to another, every moment of service, is to be celebrated,” she said.
“This is their fourth Thanksgiving at St. Joseph Center,” said Maria Alderete, SJC volunteer coordinator. “They believe that giving thanks means giving back.”
St. Joseph Center, which provides services for homeless and low-income individuals and families on seven sites in Venice, Santa Monica and West Los Angeles, will hold 11 holiday events and parties in December, one for each of its programs. Volunteers will be providing decorations and party supplies, serving meals and donating food, clothing and holiday gifts.
For more information, call (310) 396-6468, ext. 325.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 28, 2002. Read the original PDF.