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LA Korean community prepares for December charity

December 2, 2015

Volunteers wrap gifts for children at Korean American Family Services in 2014. (Kim Chul-soo/The Korea Times)

Volunteers wrap gifts for children at Korean American Family Services in 2014. (The Korea Times file)

By Kim Chul-soo

The Los Angeles Korean American community is beginning a month-long effort to share love and charity for the end of the year through its non-profit organizations.

Volunteer group PAVA World will hand out a free meal to an estimated 600 homeless at the Midnight Mission in Downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 19 with the help of students and parents.

The group also plans to send $1,500 to help “Shoes For Santa,” an annual project by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Olympic division.

“To feel the joy of helping others at the end of the year is an important lesson to our students,” a PAVA representative said.

The Korean American Family Services’ foster family initiative — launched last year to provide Korean homes for children under the care of the county’s Department of Children and Family Services — is putting together Christmas presents bought with funds from donors and local organizations.

Presents will be given out to children Dec. 18, KFAM said.

Meanwhile, Koreatown Youth + Community Center will put on a holiday carnival inside Leo Politi Elementary School starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 19 for local families and kids.

Now in its 22th year, the carnival is expected to draw 2,000 children and 500 parents.

On Dec. 21, Jesus Love World Mission, a church, is preparing to bring a “concert of love” to the homeless population in Downtown. Blankets and food boxes will be given out.

The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles will visit an adult day care center on Dec. 22.