Press Release (10 August 2004)



VOLUNTEERS AT ST. MARGARET'S CENTER IN LENNOX


St. Margaret's Center provides a full range of services to approximately 14,000 different people annually in the vicinity of the Los Angeles International Airport: families and homeless individuals who live in the cities or on the streets of Inglewood, Lennox, Hawthorne, Westchester and El Segundo. Since 9/11, the Center has experienced a 40% increase in clients, due to the loss of jobs in airline and tourist-related industries. Funding for the Center comes from the Cities of Inglewood and Hawthorne, as well as from private foundations and personal donations by the public.

Due to growing problems with securing governmental funding, the Center increasingly relies on volunteers who assist staff members and guarantee that the services are not interrupted. Among others, members of AmeriCorps worked at the Center and assisted the urban poor in finding ways out of their plight. Robert Casillas joined AmeriCorps after graduating from college and arrived at St. Margaret's Center in 2002. He said: "I wanted to use my education to help people. My major was in urban studies. Volunteering for AmeriCorps was the best use of my knowledge to assist those who need help. I like my job because I like interacting with people and I like to be helpful and to make a difference in the world. I think it is a great experience for young people like me and I enjoy helping the Catholic Charities in their mission."

Established in 1919, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. has been one of the largest social service agencies in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, serving millions of people during the eighty-five years of its existence. In more than 50 offices and community centers, the agency provided about 1,160,000 services to over 220,000 different individuals during the past fiscal year (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004). People in need come to Catholic Charities for emergency food and shelter, low-cost before-and-after-school childcare, immigration and refugee assistance, psychological services, computer and jobs skills training, and other supportive services. All services are available to all residents of the three counties, regardless of their race, ethnicity, income, gender or religious belief.


For more information or to schedule a site visit, please contact Mary Agnes Erlandson, the Director of St. Margaret's Center of Catholic Charities, stmargaretcenter@sbcglobal.net, tel. (310) 672-2208.