Free portraits offered to the elderly in Koreatown

Eagle Foto Club President Bobby Bae (left), Manager Lee Bong-Suk (The Korea Times)

Elderly residents in Los Angeles over 70 years of age will be eligible for free portraits on May 17.

Opened by Eagle Foto Club USA, an organization of photographers who have a focus on community volunteering, the annual event will celebrate May, the month of family in Korea, with the free service which will provide a framed portrait on-site.

The event has been offered 13 times since Eagle Foto Club’s launched in 2009..

“This is an event that I talked my colleagues into joining after seeing genuine gratitude after receiving the photos from the elderly around town,” said Bobby Bae, president of the club. “We plan to further develop the event into one of cooperation between second-generation children and the elderly after getting requests from parents to let them help out.”

He said they are recruiting for high school and college students to volunteer for the event and that make-up artists and hairstylists are also welcome to offer a hand.

Participants must provide proof of age by valid ID and may make appointments through email at ableusa(at)gmail.com with their name, date of birth and phone number.

“We ask those who came last year to refrain from requesting an appointment to let those who haven’t had a chance come,” Bae said.

Free portraits will be available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to the first 50 people who apply at the Eagle Foto Club Studio located on the second floor of 940 S. Western Ave.

The event is sponsored by The Korea Times.