TOPANGA/WESTWOOD—Topanga Women’s Circle is a non-profit organization that helps homeless families in Los Angeles that move to transitional housing to furnish their home.
TWC was founded in 2006 by Topanga resident Arlette Parker. The Malibu Times reported, that TWC originated when Parker witnessed a mother and her son moving into a home with a trash bag that was filled with personal belongings. She realized that some homeless families do not get to retain their possessions when they start over in a new environment, when transitioning from being on the streets into shelters.
TWC is collaborating with Westwood Transitional Village and Venice Community Housing to help families that are in need. The size of volunteers for the organization has grown over the years as it initially started with less than 10 female volunteers. TWC consists of 75 female volunteers who help collect donations from people every Saturday morning.
Linda Ilsley, co-chair of TWC since Parker left, said little items people take for granted in daily life can transform a temporary housing into a home.
“By providing new and like-new items, we help create an environment of comfort, warmth and dignity,” Ilsley told The Malibu Times.
Every Saturday between 9 a. m. and 10:30 a. m., TWC’s massive storage container, which located at Pine Tree Circle, will be open to collect necessities that are in good condition, such as new bedding, towels, rugs, personal and cleaning products, kitchen supplies, non-perishable food from donors. The items are used by families when they later move into permanent housing.
“The long term partnership between the Topanga Women’s Circle and the Salvation Army-Westwood Transitional Village & Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center Center (WTV) has met the basic needs of hundreds of homeless veteran and non-veteran families. WTV would not be the success it is today with the huge contribution from the Topanga Women’s Circle. WTV honors, appreciates deeply and is very thankful for this wonderful partnership. The fact that the volunteers are all delightful to work with is an added bonus,” stated Diane Good, Director of Westwood Transitional Village on the TWC website.
Written By John Hui and Casey Jacobs
