In the early 1970's, MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) opened its doors in an effort
to transform the lives of the neediest residents of the San Fernando Valley
- poor children and their struggling families. Starting as a small group of volunteers
working from a garage, MEND has grown primarily by word-of-mouth into
one of the leanest operating non-profit organizations in existence. More than
91% of the support and donations received by MEND, now the largest poverty agency
in the Valley, provides emergency food, clothing, medical, vision and dental
care, job skills training and job placement assistance, English as a Second Language
classes, youth activities, and a Christmas program. In 2009, we served as
many as 31,000 indivudials per month. MEND is 3700 volunteers from all walks
of life, under the guidance of a small, dedicated staff, providing all the basic
human needs vital to day-to-day survival, plus the education, training, opportunities
and support essential to transitioning out of poverty. |
