Hugs in Hollywood

Thank you so much to everyone who has responded and is willing to participate. I have attached a flyer with all of the event information. I will also have it below in text. We are lacking a few items and hoping we can get some extended help. Please let me know if any of you can enroll others to provide this for the event. Please confirm if you will be attending the event. If you have items and cannot make the event I will coordinate a pick-up. I need everyone to provide a quick list of what you have collected or committed to for the event. As you know, any little thing helps. I am SO excited as we are two weeks away. I appreciate and love you all.

We are working on small donations to go towards pizza, sandwiches, and drinks.

Plates - Qty 100
Napkins - Qty 200
Drinks - water/soda/juice (canned or bottled) Qty 75
Socks - Qty 50

Sunday, January 30th - 12pm-3pm

Event Location: A small "pocket park"

Dorothy & Benjamin Smith Park
7020 Franklin Ave.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90028

In Hollywood area between Orange & Outpost

With Love,
Janette Oriza

Friends,

Something magical happened to me a few weeks ago. I boxed up some left over food when leaving a restaurant in Hollywood to give to a homeless person in the area. When I left the restaurant I saw a little old homeless man tinkering across the street. As I walked towards him, we made eye contact. I held up my container and asked him if he was hungry. He said yes and lit up.

He had a big beautiful smile on his face. He thanked me over and over. I reached out and hugged him. He lit up even more and his smile got bigger. After we parted he came back up to me and called me his angel. He said the food was great but the hug was even better. He kept thanking me. At this moment I realized how many times we take human connection for granted. Homeless are usually ignored and non receiving of love and positive human contact.

I am happy to say that he inspired me to complete a community project in Hollywood to bring warmth, food, and hugs to homeless in that area. My event is called Hugs in Hollywood.

I need your help! My goal is to gather clothes and shoes, particularly jackets, sweatshirts, socks, and blankets. I am asking people to simply clean out their closets and donate anything they can.

I will also have a meal for them to eat along with snack bags to take with them. I am inviting people to buy an extra box of snack foods at Costco/grocery store to donate. Anything helps.

I have registered kids to provide home made cards and pictures for the homeless to take as a reminder of our event. I know how much love kids put into drawing pictures and making cards. I need more drawings and cards! Please invite any kids you know to take part.

We will also provide hugs to ensure the connection and love.

Any food donations would be a bonus. I met this man outside of Griddle Cafe on Sunset and La Cienega. The event will take place around this area. The event will be one of the last Sundays in January. I will be locking down a date and time by December 1st. Please let me know how you can help.

I encourage people to come out to the event and help spread love in Hollywood. This little man changed my life and I want to give back.

Love,

Janette

P.S. ANYTHING helps. I will send a follow-up email to coordinate pick-up of any donations. I would love for everyone on this email thread to ask 1-5 people to donate something. I will pick the items up from you or have you bring them to the event if you are interested in coming. Please feel free to forward this email on and have people contact me directly if they want. I appreciate you all.

Janette Oriza
[email protected]

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Thank you for sending Betty!