la.foodblogging

As you may have read in the LA Times on Monday, the Los Angeles Dream Center in Echo Park is currently feeding, housing and clothing dozens of Katrina survivors and expects the arrival of 300 250 people by Thursday. Some of the new residents ate their first Los Angeles meal at the Spaghetti Factory in Hollywood, according to the LA Times.

I found the L.A. Dream Center overflowing with volunteers, concerned Angelenos and local news crews both times I stopped on Monday. There is a list of items the facility most needs if you are interested in donating supplies:

1. Compact refrigerator (size: 2.7 cu ft) 2. Cribs (portable) 3. Curtains and curtain rods 4. Trash cans 5. Fans 6. Water jugs 7. Cleaning Caddies (a. Swifter Mop (disposable pads) b. Toilet/bathroom cleaning supplies c. Air fresheners) 8. Hygiene Caddy (a. Deodorant - Men and Women b. Body Wash c. Tooth brush d. Toothpaste) 9. Small Laundry baskets/hampers 10. Floor fans Hair products for African Americans 11. Formula 12. Baby & children’s clothing 13. Shoes 14. Underwear NEW ONLY for men, women and kids 15. Socks NEW ONLY for men, women and kids 16. Laundry detergent 17. Dryer sheets 18. Phone cards 19. Stamps 20. Stationary/envelopes for letters 21. Coloring books 22. Board games for common areas 23. Movies for common areas 24. Computers

***UPDATE: Dream Center has been overwhelmed with donations from Angelenos. The center needs only the following now because they do not have the storage or capacity to accept anything else:
1. Gift cards to major retailers
2. Dressers for every room (30-40)
3. 40 2.7 cu fridges
4. 30 floor fans
5. 40 large suitcases
6. 40 large plastic storage bins
7. Televisions with built-in DVD/VCR
8. 50 computers and flat screen monitors

Check the list of needs before you go, as it is regularly updated. Eric Garcetti posted a must-read account early Tuesday morning about the time he spent at Dream Center on Memorial Day. It would be great if a volunteer were writing a daily blog from inside the center.

The Dream Center
2301 Bellevue Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-273-7000
info@dreamcenter.org

Wednesday seems to be a big day for conscientious dining with restaurants, such as Silver Lake’s Comfort Cafe, and merchants like Eagle Rock’s CoWineCo, donating half of their sales to relief efforts. More information about Dine for America, a benefit for the American Red Cross, is expected on Thursday.