MENDING LIVES WITH HELP
MENDING LIVES WITH HEALING
MENDING LIVES WITH HOPE
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.
2010 Volunteer
Orientation Schedule
PDF File
Master Calendar 2010
MEND Program Events (PDF)
About MEND
Vision
All members of our community living in poverty attain self-reliance and contribute to society as caring human beings.
Mission
With dignity and respect, powered by volunteers, MEND’s mission is to break the bonds of poverty by providing basic human needs and a pathway to self-reliance.
Guiding Values
Dignity:
We affirm that every person, created in the image of God, has innate
human dignity and the right to be treated with respect, recognizing the
worth of each individual.
Person-Centered:
We assist clients in the building of their independence and
self-esteem, working with them to find ways in which they can help
themselves.
Public Support:
We seek community volunteers from all demographic groups and
non-governmental funding, ensuring maximum flexibility in meeting the
needs of our clients.
Quality Standards:
We continually improve every aspect of our performance, delivering
products and services that surpass client expectations.
Integrity:
We always do the right thing ethically, committing ourselves to our clients’ well-being.
Meeting Each Need
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.
People Helping People
Each month, more than 9,300 hours are donated by volunteers from a broad range of backgrounds and income levels; all joining together to act as people helping people. Each person plays a vital role in meeting the mission of MEND. From the distribution of food, clothing to assistance in job training and placement, our volunteers give MEND life.
MEND's Unique Characteristics
- 99% volunteer driven
- Privately funded - NO government grants
- Low overhead costs (less than 9%)
- Public relations and fund raising work done by volunteers
- Seeks to develop self-reliance among recipients
- Staff is hired only when programs grow too large for volunteers to handle
- Sells no items or services -- Small donations are accepted, based on the recipient's ability to pay