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Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce | 30,000 Circulation - Delivered to every home in Lakewood www.lakewoodchamber.com
Volume 37 Number 1
New Year's resolutions made easy
Meals on Wheels volunteering just takes a little time, but makes a big difference.
“Resolution season” has many looking inward with hopes of losing weight, getting more organized or paying down debt. In Lakewood, there are also opportunities for looking outward to help others. Consider adopting resolutions like giving back to the community and volunteering. Options in Lakewood range from spending one morning joining with hundreds of neighbors this spring at Volunteer Day, to spending a few evenings a month at a park coaching neighborhood kids, or getting active on your own block in Neighborhood Watch. Residents pitching in have improved the quality of life in Lakewood for over 60 years. If you want to help but don’t know what’s the right fit for you, visit www.lakewoodcity. org/volunteer or call 562-8669771, extension 2408. City staff can help match your interests with over 35 activities and community groups. Meals On Wheels The Lakewood Meals On
Wheels program (MOW) has been making life easier for elderly residents and shut-ins of all ages since 1975. MOW volunteers range in age from teens to seniors and help with everything from making sandwiches and packaging meals to driving and delivering meals to dozens of Lakewood clients. The nutritious meals are important, of course, but daily contact with a caring volunteer is just as important. Meals On Wheels is a non-profit community agency sponsored by the members of Lakewood/ Long Beach Soroptimist Club and the City of Lakewood. How to help: More information is at www.lakewoodcity. org/MOW. To volunteer, call 562-925-8747. Volunteer Day On Saturday, April 13, 2019, hundreds of Lakewood residents will fan out across the city to spruce up the yard or home exterior of fellow Lakewood residents in need. This will be the 24th year that Volunteer Day has been making
Teachers get classroom improvement funds
Teachers and principal from Aloha Elementary School with LEF President Todd Rogers (at left) and LEF Vice President Steve Croft (at right).
a positive difference in Lakewood. Individuals and teams of volunteers from scout troops, schools, businesses, clubs and religious congregations assist residents in need who are unable to maintain their properties themselves. How to help: Suggestions for sites and offers to volunteer can be made online at www. lakewoodcity.org/volunteerday or by calling the Burns Community Center at 562925-7512. Project Shepherd This homegrown Lakewood effort was founded in 1972 and has operated successfully ever since, providing help during the holiday season to residents suffering economic hardship. Project Shepherd also provides a limited amount of assistance outside of the holiday season for emergency household hardships. How to help: Find out more at http://www.lakewoodcity. org/projectshepherd. While volunteers are primarily needed during the holiday season, donations are always appreciated. Additional volunteer opportunities include: • Lakewood Youth Sports coaching • Weingart Senior Center • Pathways Volunteer Hospice • Friends of the Lakewood Libraries • Neighborhood Watch • Lakewood Education Foundation ♦
The Lakewood Education Foundation recently gave out its 2018 classroom improvement grants to 26 Lakewood schools, and LEF was able to fulfill 95 requests totaling $45,705. That’s a drop of about $9,000 from last year’s record-breaking year for LEF, but still a show of tremendous generosity from Lakewood residents and businesses who donate to LEF. The number one request this year for Lakewood classroom improvement grants, which average about $500, was for extra books, proving that some teaching tools never go out of fashion. Following close behind were requests for science and lab equipment, educational field trips and art supplies.
January 2019
Meet our new Board of Directors-2019 Travis Jackson Board Chair Ocean Crest Real Estate
Brad Crihfield Vice Chair Sweatshop Gym
Monica Goel Secretary TLD Law
Deena Henry Treasurer Lakewood Center
Ariel Pé
Immediate Past Chair Labwerkz Print Shop
Jose Salache
President/CEO Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce “We want to extend a huge ‘thank-you’ to everyone who donated to LEF this past year,” said LEF President Todd Rogers and Vice President Steve Croft. “Your generosity of any amount over the past year really does make it to classrooms where it provides a positive boost to our kids’ education.” An annual fireworks stand,
Columbus Day golf tournament, and hundreds of individual donations raise the annual support funding. After very modest expenses, 100% of donations reach kids in Lakewood classrooms. See a video about LEF at www. lakewoodcity.org/LEFvideo. Donating can be done year round at www.lakewoodcity. org/donateLEF. ♦