LA’s BEST is a second home to me. I started working at LA’s BEST seven years ago, and I stay because of the sense of comfort and familiarity I get from working alongside my community. Working with kids gives me a sense of purpose and I’m also developing my leadership and collaboration skills.
The feeling of comfort I get from my work is the same feeling I want the kids in the program and their families to feel.
Something that has deeply impacted me is the support and community that came from working at the LAUSD Grab & Go Distribution Centers. It was beautiful to see the community come together and connect in a time of uncertainty. Families appreciated the resources we provided and were happy and refreshed to see familiar faces.
Two of my kids are enrolled in the program and I have a peace of mind knowing they are engaged in fun activities with their peers and are in good hands. There are days when I don’t have time to cook and the food LA’s BEST provides helps me feel less stressed. I value being a giver and a receiver of the essential connections LA’s BEST provides.
I appreciate that I can help build and positively impact the community in tangible ways. My stand-out moment from the pandemic was receiving handwritten thank-you notes from parents at the LAUSD Grab & Go Distribution Centers. I am fulfilled knowing that the community sees our work and that I personally play a role in bringing positive change to families’ lives.
