Stories of Giving

The TLC Group was established by dedicated board members Page Malloy, Mary McCracken, and Michele Doney with a simple yet powerful mission: to ensure that every woman graduating from our programs moves into her new home with dignity and everything she needs to succeed.

Multiple times each year, these remarkable women shop for and donate household items to create complete "TLC Move Out Packages" for our graduates. Their thoughtfully curated packages transform empty apartments into warm, welcoming homes.

The impact of the TLC Group extends far beyond material goods. When a woman receives her TLC package, she knows that people care about her success, believe in her future, and want her to thrive. This gesture of love and support reminds our graduates that they're not alone on their journey to independence.

Mary Trivoli answered the call in January 2010 to assist with sorting donations for the residents of Good Shepherd Center. Soon after, she signed on to be a member of our Auxiliary. Over the past three years she has continued to volunteer on a weekly basis; sorting, organizing and distributing clothing to the residents that come to us for interview clothing, preparing move out packages and providing residents with daily necessities. She is always ready to lend a hand and has served as a volunteer for special events, volunteer orientations, fund-raisers, mailings, and even clean up days.

Mary is a native of Los Angeles, but has traveled quite extensively to Europe, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. She worked primarily in the entertainment industry at CBS television, Turner Film Library and Universal Studios. Mary loves to sing and has been a choir member at St. Agatha's Catholic Church and Della Reese's Church, Understanding Principles for Better Living. Most recently, karaoke has become her passion!

Beverly Archer was one of the newest members of the Auxiliary when she was asked to serve on the volunteer and membership committee. Serious about her new position, she made a point of introducing herself to the staff at GSC and asking how she could be of assistance. She was so impressed when she met Sister Rosaline that she began volunteering on the outreach team almost immediately. Not only was Beverly touched by Sister Rosaline's cheer and optimism, she was impressed by her "knowledge of what happens on the street." Beverly said that the first time she accompanied Sister Rosaline, they came upon a woman with a suitcase near Union Station. Beverly assumed this woman was waiting to take the train or bus but Sister Rosaline instinctively knew that it wasn't the case and was determined to speak to her. They learned that the woman had been homeless less than 48 hours and was very frightened; she was grateful for the food they gave her and for the referral to the shelter. Beverly knew that she had found her niche; she too wanted to be in direct contact with those being served and since then has been a regular assistant to Sister Rosaline on the outreach van.

Beverly is also a volunteer cook at the shelter, admitting that it is both selfish and fun. She loves to cook for others and does not find as much pleasure in cooking just for herself. She cooks for the ladies a few times a month and gets creative with whichever ingredients are available. According to Beverly, she sometimes cooks strange things, like the time she was presented with five ducks, and had never cooked a duck before. She simply takes a leap of faith on what the outcome will be, and the women at Languille agree that it's always tasty!

Away from GSC Beverly is a sculptor and loves to travel. She is best known for her clay piece The Warren. Thank you Beverly for your dedication to the Auxiliary and to the residents of Good Shepherd Center. We applaud you!

Life Coach Lauren Graham, herself once homeless with two small children, had a calling to share her passion with the women living at Good Shepherd Center. Her volunteer efforts started with individual coaching sessions, including only a couple of women. Seeing the great need and wanting to reach out to more women, Lauren suggested group coaching. In June, 2012, she facilitated a 4-week group coaching program with 8 women, which extended into a 12-week program because the women found such great value in the coaching, the concepts and tools presented.

During that time six women found jobs or moved into their own apartments, and one completed the culinary arts training program at The Village Kitchen. Equipped with new ways of thinking, beliefs that support their growth and success, supportive habits and higher expectations, the women have adopted stronger goals and are more positive about their future.

Still devoted to coaching the women of Good Shepherd toward prosperous and happy lives, Lauren is looking forward to offering another group coaching program in the near future. If you are interested in learning more about Lauren check out her website at www.coachbythelake.com

Haig "Hike" Mkhoian has a vision for a global awakening and does his part to set an example of how it is to come about. By profession, Hike is an arts curriculum development coordinator and a teacher at a private preschool in Studio City. When he is not educating young minds, he manages his own 501(c)3 nonprofit organization called Hike It Up!, which he founded in 2009. The mission of Hike It Up! is to bring communities and families together by producing progressive events and fundraisers that involve community based activities and improvement projects that serve youth, family, individual, environmental, and school-based programs.

Hike has made a great impact on the Los Angeles community. He teaches by being a role model and coordinated a volunteer day to clean McArthur Park. He said that he realized when the project began that it would probably be filled with trash the following day but that for one day it would be clean and so it was worth the effort. When he first started his non-profit, Hike had a vision of one thousand people each giving $5.00, and with that they could renovate a shelter. More realistically, he found thirty people willing to give $5.00 each and said they still managed to do a lot. He has a vision for Global Awakening in which everyone is aware of what is needed and each one does a little bit to make it happen.

Hike's charisma, positive attitude and outgoing personality have influenced others to volunteer and give where they can. Hike started volunteering with GSC in April of 2011 and in May he and his group of volunteers hosted a Mother's Day luncheon for all the women. He hosted a Valentine party, an Easter party and cooked breakfast at our emergency shelter. Hike spent the summer in Italy but returned a few days before the Labor Day weekend to provide a barbecue for the women living at Languille Emergency Shelter. He will return later this month to cook breakfast for them. He gives credit to the many volunteers he recruits for these events. One of the volunteers that Hike recruited was afraid of going to a shelter but after volunteering at GSC, realized the joy she received from being of service.

Since establishing this partnership with GSC, Hike devotes an average of 15 volunteer hours per month, both onsite and offsite, to educate the community about Good Shepherd Center, and plan events to benefit the women and children. Not only has GSC gained several new volunteers as a result of his efforts, but we have found a new friend in Hike.

Cali & York

When President Jeffrey Farmer and Marketing Director Gregory Cannon learned about our need for professional clothing to help women succeed in job interviews, they didn't hesitate. Cali & York donated several large bags of new clothing, giving our residents the confidence boost they needed to make great first impressions with potential employers.

W by Worth

Through W by Worth's giving-back program, women in transition received professional attire that helped them pursue employment with confidence and dignity.

PharmaNet/i3

At their annual conference VIP dinner at the Grammy Museum rooftop in LA Live, PharmaNet/i3 selected Good Shepherd Center as their charity partner. They created a unique fundraising element featuring handprints of GSC children, with donation amounts ranging from $5-$50. The creative effort raised $1,000, with PharmaNet/i3 pledging additional ongoing support for our programs and services.

When three professionals—Reggie Sully from McCoy Construction, Nicole Yonke from Annette English and Associates, and George Chavez from CALBO—identified a need to convert part of our community room into a dedicated children's space, they knew it needed to be special.

Good Shepherd Center commissioned New York muralist Sam Simon and his talented assistants Fletcher McKean and Danielle Brennan to transform the children's area. The team donated an entire week of work to create an imaginative environment that would inspire and delight the children in our care.

What was once plain white walls became a fantasy-themed environment where children's imaginations could soar. This donation demonstrates how volunteer contributions enhance our ability to serve families, creating spaces where children feel valued, inspired, and at home.