Helpful After the Holidays

While volunteers pour into nonprofit organizations during the holidays, the enthusiasm to lend a hand sharply drops in the days after Christmas, leaving many organizations shorthanded and overwhelmed.*

The Helpful Guys in Blue, sharing unexpected and meaningful acts of Helpful across the Southland, are spreading an important message of Helpful After the Holidays this month to remind residents that nonprofits are still in need of helpful hands after what some call “volunteer season.” Helpful teams were most recently spotted in Van Nuys at Van Nuys Multipurpose Senior Citizens Center on 6514 Sylmar Ave last Friday, Jan. 10th to wrap silverware, serve lunch, clean-up dishes, pickup litter and interact with the patrons. Our surprise visit was well received with comments such as “I’m so happy that you guys came today; we need all the help we can get!” and “You all did such a wonderful job; it’s nice to have some young people in here!” from staff. Their Helpful day continued by picking up litter and handing out hand sanitizer at Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park and Recreation Center along with loading cars for shoppers at Ralphs grocery on Woodman.  

The Guys in Blue will continue Helpful After The Holidays by volunteering at local food banks and blood drives.  Blood banks are experiencing a current shortage of blood and platelet donations across Southern California due to severe weather impacting collections per RedCrossBlood.org**.  Helpful teams will also continue popping up around the southland –  volunteering, picking up litter at parks, handing out umbrellas on rainy days, carrying groceries and loading cars for shoppers, and handing out tissues for flu season.  Why? It’s their job to be helpful.

What’s also helpful? For lucky residents next month, Helpful teams will be playing cupid by handing out thousands of complimentary roses across in and around Van Nuys! For location clues, please visit Facebook.com/SocalHondaDealers.

**http://www.redcrossblood.org/news/socal/red-cross-calls-blood-and-platelet-donations-after-severe-winter-weather-impacts-collecti

*http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2013/12/san-francisco-food-bank-needs-volunteers.html?ana=synd_fc