MEND - Meet Each Need With Dignity

MEND-- Meet Each Need with Dignity, which serves as many as 37,000 poverty-level clients each month while keeping operating costs to less than 6%, is the largest, most efficient and most comprehensive poverty-relief organization in the San Fernando Valley. MEND takes a holistic approach to relieve the effects of poverty by providing basic human needs while giving their clients the tools, education, training, support and opportunities that foster self-reliance. MEND was born as a volunteer-powered organization four decades ago in a garage in suburban LA, and today benefits from the assistance of more than 5,000 volunteers (and only 31 paid staff) to implement its vast array of programs that provide food; clothing; medical, dental and vision care; job training; classes for adults in English as a second language, literacy, computers, office skills, sewing; math, reading and science tutoring for kids; showers and other services for the homeless; a home garden program; and a Christmas Basket Program for 1400 pre-screened families in need.