Karsh Family Social Service Center Inc

GUIDED BY JEWISH VALUES, THE KARSH FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER IMPROVES THE LIVES OF THE UNDERSERVED BY PROVIDING CRITICAL AND ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE OR COLLABORATION WITH OTHER PROVIDERS, WHILE ALSO INTEGRATING SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A UNIQUELY POWERFUL WAY TO HELP REPAIR THE WORLD.

FOOD PANTRY - 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 DISTRIBUTES 750 BAGS OF GROCERIES EVERY WEEK. WE ALSO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 25 HOUSEHOLDS DELIVERING BAGS OF FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGHER NEEDS THROUGH OUR KARSH MOBILE PROGRAM. 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.

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM - THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS FAMILIES WORKSHOPS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE; SUPPORT GROUPS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS; DIAPER AND ESSENTIAL DISTRIBUTION TO MEET BASIC NEEDS; AND LINKAGE AND REFERRALS TO INCREASE FAMILIES SUPPORT SYSTEM. FAMILIES ARE ALSO RECRUITED AND PRIORITIZED FOR OUR ANNUAL EVENTS. THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED 224 FAMILIES, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 268 CHILDREN.

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 (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IN SUPPORTING THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. WE HOST RECURRING WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS, SPECIAL EVENT/ONE-TIME VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, AND STUDENT AND COMMUNITY INTERNS. VOLUNTEERS RANGE IN AGE 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 AND DIAPER BAGS TO DOING OUTREACH TO CLIENTS ABOUT SERVICES TO SUPPORTING SPECIAL DATA PROJECTS, AND SO MUCH MORE. ACROSS THESE ACTIVITIES, WE ENGAGED AROUND 474 VOLUNTEERS IN FY22-23.

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM - THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS FAMILIES WORKSHOPS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE; SUPPORT GROUPS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS; DIAPER AND ESSENTIAL DISTRIBUTION TO MEET BASIC NEEDS; AND LINKAGE AND REFERRALS TO INCREASE FAMILIES SUPPORT SYSTEM. FAMILIES ARE ALSO RECRUITED AND PRIORITIZED FOR OUR ANNUAL EVENTS. THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED 224 FAMILIES, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 268 CHILDREN.