This past Saturday November 20th, 2021, The People Concern celebrated their 11th annual Give Thanks & Gobble (GTAG) event! GTAG was started in 2011 by Skye Montgomery and the Montgomery family, as an initiative to bring awareness to the issue of hunger and homelessness and provide a Thanksgiving experience for our most vulnerable neighbors in the Santa Monica area. Since then, community leaders, businesses, volunteers and staff have come together to create a Thanksgiving feast for more than 650 individuals living in The People Concern’s interim housing locations across L.A. County.
"Give Thanks & Gobble (GTAG) raises much needed funds to support our programs for people experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence in Santa Monica and across L.A. County. The holidays can be especially difficult for the people we serve who are often separated from their families. The People Concern community is a support system for our program participants. Events like these help cultivate a holiday experience, strengthening our sense of community and generating goodwill. We look forward to being able to safely welcome volunteers back on-site as public health guidelines change. We wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season." - John Maceri, CEO, The People Concern
The People Concern are experts in connecting with people on the streets, bringing them inside and keeping them housed for good. Their model of integrated and comprehensive care empowers people experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence to navigate the multi-faceted obstacles in their lives, become their best selves and ultimately, connect and contribute to their communities. The People Concern knows that homelessness is solvable, 93% of people supported in permanent housing by The People Concern never experience homelessness again! Through advocacy, innovative housing and individually tailored services, The People Concern is on its way to reaching its audacious goal of permanently housing 20,000 individuals by 2028.
Submitted by: Danielle Roman, The People Concern