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Another Single Mother’s Family Helped by EHHF

Another Single Mother’s Family Helped by EHHF Single Parent Families Helped

May 192013

May the 18th, Saturday afternoon, the weather is beautiful. Most people are enjoying a relaxing weekend. Most, but not all.

The Founder and staff of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation have chosen to spend their Saturday afternoon delivering furniture, a TV set, clothing, toys and good news to a struggling single mother and her three children. (The mother is separated, alone with three young children, unemployed and starting over with nearly nothing.)

EHHF Delivers Furniture To The Disadavantaged Single Mother's Family

EHHF Delivers Furniture To The Disadvantaged Single Mother’s Family on a Saturday afternoon

EHHF Delivers Furniture To A Disadvantaged Single Mother’s Family

The photographer arrived late so you can’t see the struggle with the sofa set and the rug being unloaded from the truck and carried upstairs through the narrow passage way. The photos show the staff of EHHF already exhausted after contending with the sofa set and rug and lugging upstairs the last of the heavy items: the TV and its stand. (The stand was too heavy but provides much needed storage for toys and children’s clothing.)

EHHF Delivers Clothing To The Disadavantaged Single Mother's Family

EHHF Delivers Clothing To The Disadvantaged Single Mother’s Family on a Saturday Afternoon

The pictures, tell the story: one disadvantaged single mom’s family celebrated a little Christmas in May.

EHHF’s Founder (seated on the right) With the Single Mother’s Family whose needs were met thanks to the assistance of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation.

The furniture made the family’s apartment a home. The TV – not connected properly yet at the time the pictures were taken – will help keep the children entertained. Groceries have surely relieved some of the mother’s stress.
Children‘s clothing and toys were of course a different story altogether. The mother’s face lit up when she’s seen them. The little girl wondered how she’ll look in a new dress… The youngest of the three children was interested in toys only…

EHHF Delivers Clothing To The Disadvantaged Single Mother’s Family on a Saturday

EHHF Helped This Single Mother Find Employment And Chldcare

The much less photogenic highpoint of the afternoon must have been the moment when the Founder of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation told the mother that she’s been hired and her children will be well taken care of while she works…

If helping one single mother get back to self-sufficiency involves furniture – and other goods’ – delivery on a Saturday afternoon that’s a small price to pay for a brighter, safer future of FOUR!

Single parenthood is often a Catch 22 situation. As a sole provider, the single parent absolutely has to work; a single parent of small children can’t leave them unattended while she (or he) earns a living. As much as earning a living is a must; forcing a single parent to endanger his or her children is simply unconscionable. Empowering single parents of young children has to consist of both: employment and child care. It takes sensitivity, compassion, material and moral support – a Saturday afternoon and sometimes, a lingering backache – to create actual solutions, one individual case at a time.

Help is needed badly.

If you can help, a donation of goods will be appreciated.

The TV Set And A TV Stand Provided By EHHF (in addition to the sofa set, rug, clothing, toys, groceries and more)

The greatest need right now: cash donations for rent payments (EHHF receives requests for help paying single parent families’ rent all the time!) and jobs. (If you are hiring in San Fernando Valley or Los Angeles area, please contact us. We have many job requests from allover the country but not enough of them to organize a nationwide referral system just yet. Locally, in Los Angeles County, EHHF has a list of single mothers ready to start working immediately.)

Help Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation distribute the help where is needed most and then you too will experience the satisfaction of knowing that you ensured a family’s future, and sometimes even saved lives…. (Depression, desperation and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts are not uncommon among disadvantaged single parents.)

EHHF didn’t start its activities with a photographer at hand and cared more about providing relief than creating photographic records of its charitable deeds. We’re catching up. There’ll be more recipient stories and pictures on our Website, soon…

EHHF Provides Food And Joy To Underprivileged Single Parent Families

EHHF Provides Food And Joy To Underprivileged Single Parent Families EHHF Events

May 052013

Anticipation before Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event

On the afternoon of May 4th (Saturday) 2013 as neighboring stores begun to close, Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s Thrift Store and Donation Center on Vanowen Street in N. Hollywood filled up with single mothers, a few single fathers and a whole bunch of kids. The single parents – either unemployed or under-employed – came to receive food. The children – like ALL children regardless of circumstances – came hungry for gifts and treats…

Single Mothers Lined Up For EHHF’s Help And RECEIVED IT

NOBODY walked away disappointed even though this Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event wasn’t exactly as planned. Instead of the imperishable food items, participants received Food 4 Less gift cards with which they’ll be able to buy the exact food items they need. (The Whole Foods gift card we received will be used to purchase fresh foods for June’s Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event.) In addition, each single parent family present (pre-qualified Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s members / recipients) received delicious low-calorie drinks made especially for children (thanks to Trader Joe’s) and sweet treats from Porto’s Bakery and Café.

EHHF’s beneficiaries enjoyed the event

Everybody was delighted also by Build A Bear’s generosity! The unexpected gift of beautiful and fuzzy teddy bears made children laugh and caused many an adult wipe off a tear… The bears – as well as Build A Bear’s gift cards – were a hit with all: the young and the grown up!

EHHF’s Free Furniture Drawing

Just as Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event was winding down, there was one more very welcome surprise. A drawing for free (donated to Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation by various private donors) furniture! Since many of the single parent families – due to such circumstances as a divorce, for instance – are starting over with nothing – or next to nothing – and don’t have such basic items as a dining table, chairs, a dresser or a sofa, a gift of free furniture restores a sense of normalcy in their daily lives. All participants were excited by the prospect of winning. The youngest of the attendees drew the names of the lucky recipients. The delivery schedule is being worked out as we speak and yes, EHHF will deliver the furniture directly to the recipients!

Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event Comes To A Close

Needless to say, this non-typical Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event was a relief and joy to Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s members / recipients and brought them one step closer to recovery…

Struggling Single Mother’s Family Helped By EHHF

EHHF Provided Food And Joy To Underprivileged Single Parent Families in May 2013, again. As with all charitable events, plenty of work and considerable good will of the business community went into the preparation of the monthly Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event. Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation thanks the donors whose commitment to the welfare of single parent families (and underprivileged children!) made this event possible. EHHF thanks: Trader Joe’s, Costco, Food 4 Less, Whole Foods Market and Build A Bear for their big-hearted support! Not to be amiss, thank you to all private persons who donated – and donate! – goods to Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation’s Donation Center. Your gifts make tangible difference in daily lives of the many single parent families EHHF serves.

EHHF Helps Unemployed Single Parents Make Ends Meet

EHHF Helps Unemployed Single Parents Make Ends Meet EHHF Events

Apr 162013

Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation is preparing for May 4th (Saturday) Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event. The program is designed to help stretch local, struggling, single parent families’ grocery budgets. (The unemployment rate is still high, unemployed – and underemployed – single parent families have even harder time making ends meet than two-parent families. Many are short on food.)

Each attending single parent will receive up to 10 free, imperishable food items. There will be something to warm the attending single mothers’ hearts as well: Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation will be raffling off Build a Bear’s donations (12 bears) and 10 Gift Cards! There will also be… a furniture give away! (EHHF will match impoverished single parents’ requests for furniture with received furniture donations to improve our beneficiaries’ and their children’s living conditions.)

May’s Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event is made possible thanks to the generous donations of EHHF’s Sponsors. On behalf of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation and the many unemployed – and underemployed – single parent families it helps, thank you Trader Joe’s, Costco, Food 4 Less, Whole Foods Market and Make A Bear! Each of these respectable companies expressed its care for disadvantaged single parent families by donating to May’s Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry event.

Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry is open to EHHF’s registered members-recipients.

Resume Writing Workshop for Disadvantaged Single Parents

Resume Writing Workshop for Disadvantaged Single Parents EHHF Events

Feb 192013

On February 16th Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation launched its Seminars and Workshops program designed to empower disadvantaged single parents.

(The seminars and workshops will cover a spectrum of topics that teach computer literacy, resume writing, money management, and more. In other words, skills that enable unemployed and under-employed single parents improve their chances of getting well-paying jobs as well as increasing their earning power, and managing single parent family’s money successfully.)

The first of the workshops Resume Writing Workshop for Disadvantaged Single Parents was dedicated to resume writing, an important skill that can make a huge difference in landing a job.

Staff of EHHF Conducting Resume Writing Workshop

Staff of EHHF During Resume Writing Workshop

Several types of resumes (Combination Resume, Chronological Resume and Functional Resume) were discussed. The elements of a successful resume were explored:

The importance of valid contact information

The right way to present career objectives

Employment history

Education information

Using active verbs to illustrate applicant’s skills

Additional information that contributes to the applicant’s value as a prospective employee

How to write a résumé’s summary

Tips for résumé’s writing

Resume writing mistakes to avoid

Then, resume templates were introduced. Resume writing exercises were given. Each participant wrote her own test-resume. There was a Q & A session as well. In the end, the principles of successful resume writing were reviewed and each attendee had the opportunity to read her resume aloud. The best resumes were discussed and yes, applauded.

The first of EHHF’s workshops took place in a temporary location while the permanent place for upcoming seminars is being readied. Still, it was a successful event that provided much needed knowledge to struggling single parents and further affirmed the commitment of EHHF’s staff to the organization’s cause. The much needed computer equipment was state-of-the-art (courtesy of Best Buy).

To further inspire attendees, the President of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation prepared and presented surprise gifts to the children present as well as to all participants (each “graduate” of the resume writing workshop received 5 new t-shirts!).

The Founder of EHHF Bearing Gifts

All participating single parents left feeling energized, more confident of their job hunting – and landing – skills. Suffice to say, each mom left with a smile on her face.

Disadvantaged Single Parents Leave EHHF’s Resume Writing Workshop With a New Self-Confidence (and gifts)

And that’s the ultimate goal of EHHF, to give single parents in need not only an immediate assistance in a crisis but the skills required in today’s competitive marketplace. Everyone, but a single parent even more so, needs a good job, the pride that comes from being self-sufficient and successful. After all, there’s nothing that can ensure the bright future of single parent’s children better than the success of the parent!

Best Buy Donates Computers To Help Single Parents In Need Improve Their Job Skills

Best Buy Donates Computers To Help Single Parents In Need Improve Their Job Skills Uncategorized EHHF's Posts

Feb 032013

Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation is grateful for – and moved by – the generosity of Best Buy.

Best Buy, the store well-known for selling top of the line electronics, is in touch with the reality of today’s economy. Best Buy has just donated computer equipment to EHHF which will be used to help unemployed and under-employed single parents improve their job skills!

Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation assists disadvantaged, single parent families with their essential needs for food and goods. We believe however that (in the words of C.S. Lewis) “The proper aim of giving is to put the recipients in a state where they no longer need our gifts.” That’s why we’re launching EHHF’s Seminars and Workshops to improve our aid recipients’ job skills by teaching Computer Literacy, Money Management and Resume Writing, and more.
Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation will continue providing immediate “survival assistance” but our ultimate goal is to enable disadvantaged single parents to achieve self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency makes individuals proud, parents competent and children thrive!

That’s why Best Buy’s generous donation of two (all-in-one) computers, a router and even anti-virus software is so important us. It is a step toward a permanent solution: it will allow EHHF empower struggling single parents with skills that will help them get good jobs.
Best Buy’s generosity especially in today’s economic climate – when for many poverty seems to be a life’s sentence – is priceless to the disadvantaged single parents Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation serves! Thank you Best Buy for caring about our community!

Mulholland Drive: Collection Drive To Benefit Single Parent Families in Need

Mulholland Drive: Collection Drive To Benefit Single Parent Families in Need EHHF Events

Jan 302013

Get rid of the stuff that’s cluttering your home to free space for spring’s new arrivals. The stuff you no longer need will be used to generate funds for disadvantaged single parent families whom Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation helps with food, clothing, household items and workshops that prepare unemployed and under-employed single parents for steady, decent jobs.

Collection Drive To Benefit Single Parent Families in Need will take place on Monday, March 11th 2013 starting at 7 am. Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation (a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) will be on Mulholland Drive (from Beverly Hills to Woodland Hills) collecting:

•   used office equipment
•   used cell phones
•   used electronics
•   clothing and shoes
•   furniture
•   toys and books

If you’ve been a single parent or have been raised by a single parent you know that it takes a HERO to be both a parent AND a sole provider. Clean up your Mulholland Drive home AND change lives of single parent families in need!

If you prefer to drop off your donation at EHHF’s Donation Center (at 12128 Vanowen Street in N. Hollywood ), it is open daily.

If you’d like to become a contributing member or sponsor of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation, please contact us by e-mail or call us at 818-503-7775.

EHHF Announces 2013 Programs for Struggling Single Parents

EHHF Announces 2013 Programs for Struggling Single Parents EHHF Events

Jan 232013

Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation has just unveiled its 2013 Programs:

Shop EHHF’s Food Pantry (to supplement food budget of disadvantaged single parent families)

and

EHHF’s Seminars and Workshops for unemployed and under-employed single parents

Learn more about EHHF’s 2013 Programs for Struggling, Single Parent Families!

EHHF Continues Growing in 2013

EHHF Continues Growing in 2013 EHHF Events

Jan 202013

The Founders of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation preparing warm welcome for a new group of disadvantaged, single parent families

Unemployed and under-employed single parents gathered outside in anticipation of the event

On January 19th 2013 Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation welcomed new struggling single parent families. It was a warm meet and greet during which the eligibility and needs of each single parent family were evaluated.

Children were eating while their struggling single parents were qualified for EHHF’s assistance

There were snacks to keep children occupied while the adults sorted out paperwork and sipped on coffee.

Disadvantaged single parents had to meet EHHF’s eligibility requirements

The Founders, activists and volunteers of Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation worked tirelessly to ensure that no single parent family in need is deprived of assistance.

Once the eligible families were qualified a warm lunch was provided. Unemployed – and under-employed – single parents breathed a sigh of relief knowing that they’ll receive much needed assistance in the form of food, clothing and household essentials.

Nobody left hungry or empty-handed…

In February 2013 (next month) EHHF will be unveiling its new programs and the qualified attendees of this event will also be invited to participate in seminars and lectures that will empower them on their way to gainful employment and financial self-sufficiency.

EHHF’s first event of 2013 was a resounding success! Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation thanks McDonald’s, Noah’s Bagels and Starbucks for their generous sponsorship and great contributions: it wouldn’t be the same without you!

EHHF To Welcome More Single Parents in Need

EHHF To Welcome More Single Parents in Need EHHF Events

Jan 162013

With the holiday season behind us, Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation is plunging into a whirlwind of activities. This coming Saturday (01/19/13) we’ll hold a meeting for 30 disadvantaged single parent families to determine the eligibility and specific needs of each. (Some of the families will benefit from our kitchen essentials and accessories give-away in late January.)

Single parents who are currently jobless or under-employed shoulder more responsibilities and face more fears than married parents in the same situation. As single parents, they’re usually also sole providers. It’s essential to elevate some of the pressure they’re under and help them get back on their feet.

We’re grateful to the sponsors of the upcoming get-together. Our thanks go to:

McDonald’s

Starbucks

and Noah’s Bagels

who have pledged to make the planned meeting warm and hospitable by providing foods and drinks.
All three are well-known and popular brands, their willingness to support our cause further highlights their positive impact on the communities they serve. (We’re certain that their generosity won’t go unnoticed!)

This is the first of a series of meetings which will help EHHF focus its efforts on particular recipients and their needs during the year.

In its “spare time”, Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation builds productive alliances, plans its next collection drive and – of course! – work on programs and events for 2013 is in the works. As a matter of fact it will be announced on our blog, next month….

Buy and Sell on eBay to Help Struggling Single Parent Families

Buy and Sell on eBay to Help Struggling Single Parent Families How YOU Can Help

Jan 092013

You can support Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation (EHHF) when you buy or sell on eBay, with the eBay Giving Works program.

Here’s how:
Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation is part of the eBay Giving Works program. So, you can support our mission when you buy and sell on eBay. Here’s how:

Buy
You can find whatever you’re looking for on eBay – from baseball cards to new cars and more. When you do, shop for items that benefit us. You can get a great deal and support disadvantaged single parent families at the same time!
Shop now to support Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation (EHHF)

Sell
You can also support Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation (EHHF) when you sell on eBay. Just designate our organization to receive 10-100% of your final sale price the next time you list something great.
Did you know that charity listings often get more bids and higher prices than regular eBay listings? Boost your sales and support our critical work while you’re at it! Plus eBay gives back to you too, with a fee credit on your basic selling fees.
Sell now to support Enlightened Helping Hand Foundation (EHHF)

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