Whole Life Magazine

December 2019 / January 2020

Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1196907

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 7 of 31

8 wholelifetimes.com T he home of the Pico Union Project is in the original 1909 Sinai Temple located in East Central LA. In 2013, Craig and Louise Taubman turned this historic house of worship into a multi-faith cultural arts center. PUP is dedicated to invigorating the community by bringing diverse cultures together through music, story, art, and activism. Every other Thursday, PUP hosts their Vida Sana Farmers' Market sharing free fresh produce, activities, and workshops. The community and beyond enjoys concerts, lectures, and inter-faith services designed to bridge divisions implementing their model for cooperation based on cultural exchange, dialogue, and partnership. For the holidays, PUP is kicking up their outreach spirit by adding holiday concerts where all are invited to donate in a number of ways. PUP is also responsible for the planting of more than 300 trees in the 24 square-block area surrounding the center as part of the "Keep It Green" initiative with the LA City Council District 1. To donate, volunteer, and attend events, visit picounionproject.org. A nother LA organization that is turning it up a notch this year is The Children's Lifesaving Foundation which is dedicated to transforming the lives of under-served, at-risk, and homeless families through an approach of providing summer camps, field trips, and education assistance with scholarships for youth through college-age students. Their annual holiday Project Angel Wings events encourage a "feeling of family" with an atmosphere of respect, connection, and giving. Santa and his helpers give personalized gifts to each child. In fact, even Dick Van Dyke has joined in the fun! DJs crank the holiday tunes while young and old dance away. Healthy holiday treats are enjoyed while coaches assist in creating works of art perhaps to be gifted to family members. The organization is active throughout the year, and the Project Angel Wings events create lasting light hearts and warm memories. To donate, volunteer, and attend events, visit childrenslifesaving.org. I t all started with putting a Christmas tree on Craigslist. The Christmas Tree Project, founded by David and Michelle Fein, was born out of a surprising result when they received 20 heartbreaking responses immediately after putting their extra tree on Craigslist in Colorado. It was then that they realized there were families that would otherwise go without the magical trees and there was something they could do about it! Since 2010, The Christmas Tree Project has given more than 3,500 fully decorated trees to families in need. In various cities they've created "Santa Stores" where festive decorations including stockings, wreaths, and nutcrackers are gifted to complete the holiday feeling in foster homes, group homes, and family living rooms. They now fill requests to give the "trees of light" from coast to coast, including here in Los Angeles. To donate, volunteer, and participate, visit thechristmastreeproject.org. Perhaps we have angels in our lives who give us the "present of their presence" or share their love in uniquely surprising ways. We are surrounded by so much hope, imagination, and possibility in our bright City of Angels with countless "angel acts" being performed every day. Remember, we are all an angel to someone, perhaps to some we may never know. city of angels Photos: picounionproject.org; The Children's Lifesaving Foundation; thechristmastreeproject.org Giving the Gift of Kindness LA HOLIDAY ANGEL ACTIVISM By Sunny Chayes Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we do. We make a life by what we give." This year perhaps there are more "giving angels" than we may realize. Even though many of us may feel disheartened by the appearance of polarity in our societal cohesion, there are many individual, family, and organizational LA "angels" who are upping their giving game. If you, too, are in the holiday spirit, here are a few to consider:

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Whole Life Magazine - December 2019 / January 2020