Help Ukraine by attending this benefit concert

Nonprofit news: Sowing Seeds of Change brings sustainability and vocational skills to Long Beach

Lindsay Smith and Dina Feldman are transforming a vacant parking lot into Sowing Seeds of Change, a sustainable, urban farm and a space to nurture young adults with disabilities.

For Sowing Seeds of Change’s roughly 20 participants, who have all connected to the organization through Long Beach Unified School District’s Adult Community Transition program, days at the farm begin with tea and honey harvested from the site, meditation and mindfulness activities.

Music plays throughout the morning, and students dance along to Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson, all while learning about every stage of the gardening process, from planting and transporting seeds, to composting and irrigating, all while developing job-readiness skills.

"After they transition out of school services, a lot of the kids that aren’t completely independent, but still need a little bit of help, just kind of fall through the cracks, and they don’t have as many opportunities as most kids," said Smith.

As Sowing Seeds of Change continues to grow, Feldman and Smith hope to extend to serving young adults who were in the foster care system.

"I don’t think this would have worked in any other city," said Smith. "We know it’s gonna be a big success, even though we’ve had all these challenges, but I’m so happy that it’s right here in Long Beach."

Read more here

Join Surfrider Foundation its monthly beach clean-up at Belmont Pier from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 12. View more information here or contact treasurer@longbeach.surfrider.org for more questions. Please register ahead of time by completing the waiver form.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. until noon, Long Beach Gray Panthers distributes food from Food Finders to low-income seniors. The organization requests a commitment of one three-hour shift per week and that volunteers are vaccinated and boosted. Long Beach Gray Panthers is located at 1150 E. Fourth St. Contact longbeachgraypanthers@gmail.com to get involved.

Adaptive Freedom Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing people in wheelchairs and with disabilities with open water experiences, is hosting a volunteer recruiting night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 10. Come meet the team and learn about volunteer opportunities ranging from being a paddle or beach volunteer, coordinating special events, supporting the operations team, helping to procure needed items, working on digital marketing, or using your skills to assist in other creative ways. Meet at the U.S. Sailing Center, 5489 E. Ocean Blvd.

Attend a benefit concert in support of humanitarian aid to Ukraine hosted by Marat Daukayev School of Ballet and other local performers from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 11. Tickets range from $25 to $100 for the in-person performance and can be purchased here, or instead attend virtually for $15. For those who attend in-person, artwork by local and Ukrainian artists, poetry, and other gifts will be raffled. To ensure the safety of the performers, use of masks and proof of vaccination is required. The School of Ballet is located at 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

Join the Assistance League Long Beach from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12, for a fashion show and silent auction luncheon in support of the organization’s CAMEO Mentoring and Enrichment Program. Funds raised will directly aid services and scholarships for students in high school and at Long Beach City College who participate in the program. Purchase a regular ticket for $150, a VIP ticket for $225, or make a donation here. Guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The event takes place at the Westin Long Beach, 333 E. Ocean Blvd.

Contribute to Ashlee’s Homeless Fund, a Long Beach-based nonprofit run by Christine Barry. Barry assists those experiencing homelessness with connections to rehab facilities, bus tickets to their families, and emergency hotel vouchers, among other services.