St.
Joseph Center has achieved significant recognition as an outstanding
charitable partner in helping solve problems of needy families and
individuals on the Westside of Los Angeles. The California Community Foundation’s Donor Connect newsletter referred to St. Joseph Center as “one of the preeminent social service organizations serving low-income members of the Westside community.”
Paying our respects to Sister Marilyn Rudy (1932-2009)
We pay our deepest respects to St. Joseph Center co-founder Sister Marilyn Rudy, who passed away on December 26, 2009. Her vision, shared with others, to care for the most vulnerable members of the Venice community led to St. Joseph Center’s founding in 1976. With the help of fellow CSJ Sister Louise Bernstein and a single Jesuit Volunteer, Sr. Marilyn began her ministry by providing basics like food and clothing while also offering longer-term solutions through ongoing counseling.
After a decade of growth to meet the area’s expanding needs, Sr. Marilyn left the Center in good hands in 1986 when it became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. She remained connected through ongoing consultation with the Center’s leaders, while her ethos of caring for the least fortunate members of our community and treating all with the utmost dignity and respect continues to shape how St. Joseph Center provides services every day.
In one of her last written statements to her fellow sisters, Sr. Marilyn reflected on her work at St. Joseph Center and said that “this has been a life-giving process for me. I have learned lots, grown lots and learned to love more fully.”
Even as we mourn Sister Marilyn Rudy’s passing, we celebrate her life by continuing the work of Planting Hope, Growing Lives that she helped begin.
St. Joseph Center Thrift Store On Hiatus
Our Thrift store is currently on hiatus as we prepare for our move to an exciting new and improved location in Santa Monica this spring. We are able to accept donations during this time of transition. Please visit our Thrift Store page for more details on this move and our hiatus donation procedures.
KABC Channel 7 Visits St. Joseph Center's Bread and Roses Café
St. Joseph Center partners with L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to Launch Project Focused on Housing 40 Chronically Homeless Venetians
On July 2, St. Joseph Center presented its findings to the community from a survey of homeless individuals in Venice conducted over three nights in May 2009. 222 people were surveyed in an effort to establish a "Service Registry" of the most vulnerable. After analyzing the data, 98 of those surveyed were identified as highly vulnerable. 40 of the most vulnerable will be targeted by this new project over the next two years for placement in permanent supportive housing. We have a white paper available for download that describes the survey and its findings (PDF reader required).
St. Joseph Center's Food Pantry Featured During NBC's The Biggest Loser
The Biggest Loser and Feeding America's "Pound for Pound Challenge" recently visited St. Joseph Center's Food Pantry to show the impact that hunger has in our community and to provide some information on how you can make a difference. You can watch the spot that was broadcast or go to the "Pound for Pound Challenge" website to see a longer version of the video [click on the link for "David Arquette (CA)"].
New 204 Hampton DriveFacility Now Open
On September 11, 2008 St. Joseph Center's held a Dedication Ceremony for the new family services and administration facility that we opened at 204 Hampton Drive in Venice. This marks the Center's return to its address of 20 years after a 20 month absence due to construction. Follow the link for more photos of the new facility.
St. Joseph Center's Executive Director: Va Lecia Adams
Va Lecia Adams brings fresh energy and a wealth of experience with respected social service providers to the position of Executive Director at St. Joseph Center. You can learn more about her by looking over our short biography or reading a profile from the Santa Monica Daily Press (SMDP link opens a PDF in new window).
St. Joseph Center takes a comprehensive view of
problems, integrating many services into long range solutions that
provide the advantage of sustainable change for more than 6,000 men, women, and children annually.
More than 900 working poor families presently
use Center services. We provide job training and referrals to improve
employment situations. We also provide safe, creative environments
for children of all ages through all-day childcare, mentoring, tutoring
and family recreational activities.
St. Joseph Center provided more than 15,000 grocery
bags last year through its family Food Pantry and served more than
24,000 hot nutritious meals at Bread & Roses Café, an innovative
free restaurant for the homeless.
The Center offers help to more than 2,400 homeless
men, women, and children each year through street outreach, emergency
services, crisis intervention, case management and referrals. Our
comprehensive programs provide job training and placement, meals,
and access to affordable housing.
The Center offers a compassionate alternative
for those unable to manage their government benefits due to mental
illness or instability. Our staff assures that formerly homeless mentally
ill men and women remain housed, in treatment, and on a path to self-sufficiency.
We pay our deepest respects to St. Joseph Center co-founder Sister Marilyn Rudy, who passed away on December 26, 2009. Her vision, shared with others, to care for the most vulnerable members of the Venice community led to St. Joseph Center’s founding in 1976. With the help of fellow CSJ Sister Louise Bernstein and a single Jesuit Volunteer, Sr. Marilyn began her ministry by providing basics like food and clothing while also offering longer-term solutions through ongoing counseling.
