The St. Joseph Center plans to host 11 holiday parties for needy families and individuals in Venice, Santa Monica and West Los Angeles.
Business owners, professionals, political and community leaders and celebrities this month will join the center to support its programs, which include emergency services, child care, counseling and training for more than 8,000 adults and children.
Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been hosting holiday parties since its founding in a Venice storefront by two Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
“It’s the one time of the year when clients, staff, volunteers, board members and donors can get together to truly celebrate,” said Rhonda Meister, the center’s executive director. “Everyone is welcome at St. Joseph Center.”
There’s a holiday party for each program. On Dec. 12, at the Bread & Roses Café on Rose Avenue, volunteers will serve food, play games and give door prizes to clients in the center’s monetary advisory program in Santa Monica.
On Dec. 13, the family center and food pantry will hold its annual party at the administration building in Venice. This year, the program will provide case management, educational activities and housing assistance for almost 1,000 families. Poverty-level families this year received 17,498 bags of groceries.
“It’s the first step toward case management and the road to self-sufficiency,” Meister said.
Between Dec. 15 and Dec. 23, the homeless service center will have holiday music, gifts and events. The program serves more than 2,500 people with emergency services, job training and housing and employment referrals.
On Dec. 19, Santa and his reindeer will land at the infant toddler development center on Rose Avenue for their holiday potluck, toting toys and gifts. The program provides low-income working mothers with free full-day child care for children under 3 years old.
Martin Sheen, Stephen Collins, Wendy Malick and Ted Danson are among the center’s past volunteers.
“Many of our volunteers are students,” said Maria Alderete, coordinator of volunteers. “They’re giving the gift of themselves.”
Anyone can take part in the center’s holiday parties by adopting a family, serving meals, providing entertainment or by making monetary donations. People can also donate food, clothing, gifts, decorations and party supplies.
For more information on St. Joseph Center, call (310) 396-6468 ext. 328, or visit www.stjosephctr.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 6, 2003. Read the original PDF.