GOOD DEEDS HAVE THEIR DAY AROUND SOUTHLAND.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer Though dark gray clouds loomed above, thousands of volunteers brought bright smiles and warmth across the Southland as part of Big Sunday, a day devoted to good deeds. More than 2,000 volunteers spread themselves out over Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. to participate in 100 projects, including sprucing up community gardens, delivering Meals on Wheels n. 1. A program that delivers hot meals to persons, such as the elderly or disabled, who are confined to their homes and unable to cook for themselves; also, the meals thus delivered. Such programs are usually conducted by governmental or charitable organizations. to senior adults, cooking breakfast for the homeless and repairing an AIDS hospice. Even a small home on the not-for-profit Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship horsemanship: see equestrianism. horsemanship Art of training, riding, and handling horses. Good horsemanship requires that a rider control the animal's direction, gait, and speed with maximum effectiveness and minimum effort. property in Chatsworth, where mentally and physically disabled children and adults can learn about and ride horses for free, received some much needed tender, loving care. Caretaker Sharon Sapp, who lives on site and is in charge of the 20 horses there, was happy about the prospect of her freshly painted home. ``I'm so excited,'' Sapp said. ``We're one of those programs that would not survive without volunteers.'' Founded four years ago, Big Sunday used to be known as the Temple Israel Temple Israel Minnesota Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish temple located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1878 and originally an Orthodox congregation known as Shaarai Tov. Moved to the current location in 1914, built the latest edifice in 1928. of Hollywood Mitzvah Day. Participation has since grown from 11 organizations and 70 volunteers to 80 organizations and 2,000 volunteers from temples and churches in neighborhoods of poor, middle-income and wealthy residents. ``This is really what I wished for,'' said Big Sunday founder David Levinson. ``Many synagogues have Mitzvah Day, but we wanted to do something in conjunction with churches and all kinds of organizations.'' Volunteers from San Gabriel Valley The San Gabriel Valley is one of the principal valleys of southern California. It lies to the east of the city of Los Angeles, to the north of the Puente Hills, to the south of the San Gabriel Mountains, and to the west of the Inland Empire. , Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. , Hollywood and everywhere in between participated, he said. ``One of the things we really want to do is to be a catalyst for people so that they will give their time for the rest of year,'' Levinson said. Many nonprofit organizations are experiencing budget cuts, he said, and could use an extra hand. Those organizations can be found in any neighborhood, he said. ``This morning we went to visit a senior citizen home in Beverly Hills. Their families may be wealthy, but the residents can get very lonely,'' Levinson said. ``The whole idea is, no matter who you are, there is always something you can do to help somebody else,'' he said. ``Even if you don't Even If You Don't is a single released by the band Ween in 2000 on Mushroom Records. Formats Enhanced CD single Includes the quicktime video of "Even If You Don't" directed by Matt Stone & Trey Parker of "South Park". have a talent, we also give blood. If you can't do anything, you can always give blood.'' Ride On Executive Director Bryan McQueeney said his organization relies on the good deeds of others. All the horses have been donated, he said. Without events like Big Sunday, Ride On would not exist. Volunteer Mike Bevan of Chatsworth brought his three daughters to Ride On. ``I thought it was time for them to learn about social activism,'' he said as he pulled rusted nails from old horse shoes. The horseshoes were being transformed into brightly colored picture frames by residents of a Sherman Oaks group home. While the men from the group home learned how to groom horses on one side of the property, the women sat down to some arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. . After a day of petting horses and walking around the ranch, Becky Yadegar, 25, sat with friends Natalie Yaccobe, 20, and Satya Briskin, 25, to make some picture frames. ``I'm so happy,'' Yadegar said. ``I petted horses.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Holding a bucket of carrots, Satya Briskin makes friends Sunday with a horse at Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship property in Chatsworth, where the disabled ride for free. Michael Owen
|
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion