BLESSING BAGS
Heal South LA
Our annual spring Blessing Bags Drive was started in 2015 by Executive Director, Kenya Kirkland. She wanted to provide homeless women, who are often forgotten on Mother’s Day, with a small gesture of caring that would bring them a little joy and to let them know they are not alone. The following year, we added bags for men when staff learned the women were sharing the toiletries from their bags with the men living on the streets with them.
Our Blessing bags include toiletries, personal hygiene items, make up, and nail polish. The make-up and nail polish bring a little beauty into their day and help them feel better about themselves. Each bag is wrapped and includes a hand-written note from a volunteer.
In our effort to solve period poverty, we include feminine hygiene items in our Blessing Bags. Period poverty refers to the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and education that Los Angeles’ homeless women and girls face. Meeting the feminine hygiene needs of our most vulnerable population is a fundamental issue of human rights, dignity and public health.
Item donations for the Blessing Bags are collected between March 1st and the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Our amazing volunteers help prepare the bags, write notes, and distribute them in homeless encampments throughout South Los Angeles.
In our effort to solve period poverty, we include feminine hygiene items in our Blessing Bags. Period poverty refers to the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products and education that Los Angeles’ homeless women and girls face. Meeting the feminine hygiene needs of our most vulnerable population is a fundamental issue of human rights, dignity and public health.
Item donations for the Blessing Bags are collected between March 1st and the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Our amazing volunteers help prepare the bags, write notes, and distribute them in homeless encampments throughout South Los Angeles.
Period poverty is disproportionately impacting BIPOC women and those experiencing homelessness…
Help us serve our most vulnerable mothers, sisters, and daughters by enabling us to distribute blessing bags to help heal the hundreds of women, men, and children that are experiencing homelessness in our community.
GIVE NOW
The dedicated volunteers of A Step to Freedom (ASF) are the core of our community outreach and awareness events.
Since 2015, ASF volunteers have been instrumental in preparing and distributing over 2,000 Blessing Bags filled with personal hygiene items, toiletries, and PPE to individuals living on the streets of South Los Angeles.
VOLUNTEER NOW
START A TEAM
Organize your own Blessing Bags Team. Recruit your family and friends to volunteer and raise a minimum of $1000 as a Blessing Bags Team Leader.
CREATE TEAM
Help Us Heal South LA by Becoming a Sponsor
Help us serve our most vulnerable mothers, sisters, and daughters by enabling us to distribute blessing bags to help heal the hundreds of women, men, and children that are experiencing homelessness in our community.
BECOME A SPONSOR