Addressing homelessness: Wonderful Neighbor provides support to the Los Angeles Mission

The Los Angeles Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness and poverty, serves as a beacon of hope for many of our neighbors. There are over 75,000 people currently experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, and the need for support is evident. The LA Mission is on the front lines providing meals, hot showers, safe shelter, and other life-saving support. The organization offers critical resources and tools and regularly engages with their neighbors to address the concerns that are most pressing for them.

Demonstrating the true spirit of being a Wonderful Neighbor, more than 100 employees from our Los Angeles-based People, HR, and Finance teams joined the LA Mission for a remarkable day together.

Kyle Patterson, Sal Williams, and Ellis McGinnis from the LA Mission provided an overview of the organization’s programs, including their emergency services, transitional housing, recovery programs, and many more services benefiting the community. Wonderful’s chief financial officer and EVP of Human Resources, Steve Howe, emphasized the importance of community engagement as Wonderful Neighbors when learning about the issues affecting our local communities.

Employees were divided into groups, each assigned with a unique task to contribute to the LA Mission’s goal of supporting individuals in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Volunteers sorted through clothing donations, packed meal boxes in the warehouse, distributed FIJI Water around Skid Row during a water walk, participated in beautification projects around the Mission’s headquarters, and played in a friendly game of basketball with some of the Mission’s residents.

“Last month, the Los Angeles Mission was blessed to experience community in action,” said Ellis McGinnis, director of communications at the LA Mission. “Over 100 employees from The Wonderful Company came to serve in our kitchen, lobby, and offices. It was a complete takeover of our day-to-day outreach operations. TWC team members showed compassion as they offered kind choices to our unhoused neighbors in Skid Row during a water walk, helped repatriate individuals with society at a basketball tournament, streamlined administration tasks, and shared perspectives with LA Mission students and neighbors. It was clear this commitment to civil services flows from the top. A heartfelt thank-you to each and every TWC team member who showed love and answered the call to support.”  

As the day unfolded, volunteers worked diligently, as their efforts were driven by a shared sense of purpose. It was clear that the day was not just about giving back, but also about coming together as a community.

Being a Wonderful Neighbor is truly at the heart of The Wonderful Company. It’s not just what we do, it’s who we are.