I have been volunteering with Present Now since July 2019. They have always been a great group with which to volunteer and I always left their activities with a strong sense of goodwill and personal satisfaction. I have never appreciated Present Now more than I do this year during COVID when so many of my volunteer opportunities shuttered (temporarily) because their service models could not adapt to be safe. I was thrilled when Present Now started offering SAFE volunteer opportunities. Though I miss the energy of their previous large scale events, I am happy to come in and provide service. If you are a volunteer seeking a safe place to provide service with an organization whose mission is supporting women and children, then this is the place for you too.
I have been part of Present Now for seven months. What they do for so many children is amazing and inspiring! Every time I volunteer, I leave with a smile on my face and a warm heart, knowing that we are making a difference. Marlena and Lilian create such a loving, giving and joyful atmosphere. I also enjoy the snacks, the smiles on everyones face and always feel safe. As someone who has had some childhood trauma, I'm very happy to be part of this great family . Giving is such a gift and so is Present Now, Namaste !
I have been volunteering with Present Now this past year. It has been a very enjoyable experience because the staff is always super friendly, and I always have something fun to do. This organization is doing so much good for the community and they are always welcoming. I always feel like a made a difference after leaving each time I volunteer.
I started volunteering for PRESENT NOW during the pandemic, and I love how they have such a great, organized, and safe volunteering opportunity. PRESENT NOW is such an amazing organization, and it is super awesome being able to accomplish meaningful work after each time I volunteer. I also think it is super fun making the birthday boxes for all of the children the organization makes so happy.
Volunteering at Present Now is always a great time! There’s no standing around and wondering what you need to do. Everything is well-organized, covid safe, and efficiently enjoyable! It’s a great feeling(especially for someone like myself)to see your work completed at the end of your volunteering hours! Tons of purple bows and white boxes for the kiddos! Fantastic energy and an incredible mission!
I am a student (Go Bruins!) that volunteered for the first time with PRESENT NOW during the pandemic. The team at PRESENT NOW is extremely dedicated to their cause, and they prioritize volunteer and employee health during this health crisis. Volunteering at PRESENT NOW is incredibly fulfilling--the presents volunteers help assemble go to children in domestic violence shelters to help build self-esteem/confidence. The work being done at PRESENT NOW is so important.
I started volunteering with PRESENT NOW during the pandemic. They provide a safe environment during these times to allow volunteers to continue to donate their time, however, I'm really looking forward to participating in one of the large volunteer events eventually! I truly admire the work PRESENT NOW does for women and children affected by domestic violence. I've participated in wrapping birthday gifts so mothers still have an opportunity to give their child/children a gift on their special day. It warms my heart knowing that the small gesture of wrapping a gift can help to rebuild the relationship between mother and child.
I am a high school volunteer at Present Now. I like knowing I am helping out many families, and even kids my own age who are in difficult situations. Volunteering at Present Now is relaxing and even pretty fun. It makes me feel good about the work I am doing.
Present Now does such a wonderful job of providing to families in need, to provide them with some comfort and happiness . They are constantly thinking of ways to improve and bring some delight to lives which have seen too much darkness. My family and I try to volunteer with them whenever we can. We are proud to support such a consistent and positive organization.
Present Now is an amazing organization that does such important work. Bringing joy to children living in transitional domestic violence shelters is so needed. Volunteering by writing and decorating birthday cards or putting together boxes filled with birthday gifts brings a smile to my face knowing that the work is bringing smiles to the kids Present Now is supporting.
June 23, 2020I don't have a story yet....I want a story, a life to look forward everyday, give to others with a smile. But no...I am stuck in this 10x10 room hot, sick, worried, scared, confused, ill, isolated not knowing if things will get worse. I so much would like to change this story around...I know I will some day. I am 58 diagnosed with heart failure, alls thats wrong with me is my heart wont pump strong enough...My medication has blown me up I am getting use to them and started doing better was searching for housing....Now,being cooped up and no one wanting to work is not helping..I have asked for help from my doctor, case workers, senior centers, HUD, LACAD housing, alls I get is go try here..and here only for them to push me out again go here we will put you on wait list..Ive waited over a year..I am so tired, worn out, feel that I cant do anything about this....I am so tired...I am italain, thats how i got to this site...I dont know who you are but will google a place called home after this note. I was searching for housing and got the golden age affordable senior housing..they all are chineese...where do I belong???? Where do I belong?..I am italain,,where do i search???its taken me here...A place called home? I am 58,,,,not 62 or 65....I am disabled on SSDI...food stamps I need help with housing...1 bedroom larger than 10x10 or apartment or studio...or even share a 2 bedroom with another elder...Please help me if you can..my email is jeannie.perri1 at gmail, dot com. I can walk, cook,,run soon? I need to move...feel free again...I want to help others with a smile like you do...Please help me. Jeannie
Harmony House, a confidential Bronx based Domestic Violence Shelter, operated by Urban Resource Institute is extremely grateful for having Present NOW supporting our children during their stay in our residence. Present NOW gifts provide children ages birth to teen with hope of a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
Child M and A recently celebrated their 1st birthdays and the parents were elated to receive such educational toys. Child J celebrated his birthday in September and had actually been hoping for the dinosaur raptor toy and his eyes lit up with excitement to receive one. His mother could not afford the dinosaur and was moved to tears when he received it.
Thanks on behalf of the children and parents for bringing joy into their lives at this challenging time.
The two founders of Present Now recognized an unmet need of the children who wound up in homeless shelters through no fault of their own. It may be more obvious to understand the difficulties children face while experiencing the instability of frequently shifting residences, schools, and classmates while watching the stresses that their parent endures. But Melanie and Erica realized that these children deserved support for birthdays, holidays, and school supplies, and they created Present Now to deliver that to them. The public that they appealed to agreed.
Thank you, Present Now for allowing my classmates to volunteer with your backpack stuffing. We had so much fun and think you are doing amazing things for children. We can’t wait to come back!
For years, PRESENT NOW has brought joy to our families in our transitional housing program. It is extremely rewarding to see the children’s faces when they receive a beautiful wrapped birthday box. Many parents in our shelter cannot afford to purchase their child a gift on their birthday. Present Now assists our families at the shelter by giving the children a gift on their birthday. We are grateful to be connected to a great organization. Thank you for caring about our families!!
I am the Program Director of the Urban Center for Change, (UCC) which is one of two Tier II shelters, under the auspices of Urban Resource Institute (URI). UCC provides comfortable transitional housing for survivor of domestic violence. While at the facility, the families are provided with compassionate, and innovative client-centered services, until they transition to permanent housing. The aim is to provide a supportive environment administered by responsive, professional and dedicated staff that is able to identify, assess, and guide the residents toward meeting their physical and emotional needs.
We, at URI/ UCC, appreciate the support that PRESENT NOW has been providing to our families since April, 2019, where children have been provided with birthday gifts consisting of boxes filled with goods that parents would not, normally, be able to provide to the children. We are grateful, also, for all the items needed to bake cakes for the children and the gifts cards that the families received to take the children out to dinner. The children were excited about their gifts and the parents shared that they enjoyed seeing smiles on their children’s faces once they opened the boxes. The families shared that the birthday boxes eased the financial burden of providing a festive environment for the children’s birthday. We applaud PRESENT NOW for this awesome initiative and hope others can benefit as well.
Present now supports our DV shelters. They personalize gift baskets for the children at our shelter. The present box also includes a cake kit and gift card. Their presents have allowed our children to enjoy their birthdays, and keep their minds off of their current situation.
This is a very special organization to say the least.
PRESENT NOW has a Presents Program for children living in transitional domestic violence shelters. What I love about this nonprofit is its innovative approach to bringing joy to children in distress while bringing dignity to their mothers. The charity delivers beautifully wrapped gift boxes to the shelters and the mothers get to present the gifts to their children. Three gifts per year! One of the child's birthday, one on Valentine's Day and one on Back to School Day. I highly recommend this organization to anyone looking to make a difference in a child's life.
Present Now is doing such great work in the Los Angeles community. The amount of time and care they put into helping children betters the lives for so many when they’re going through such a hard time. All nonprofits should care this much!
I had the pleasure of volunteering with Present Now this past summer. They are doing wonderful things for children in need and their staff members were super sweet.
Very grateful for all that PRESENT NOW does for the children in our shelter and transitional housing program. The smile in their eyes say's it all when they are blessed by your organization. Thank you for helping us make their world brighter.
Present Now has been a life saver in assisting me and my family in making my children's birthday wishes come through. The presents that we received acceded all our expectations. Thank you so much
PRESENT NOW provides love and support to the children we serve by celebrating birthdays, back to school days and Valentine's Day. As a transitional housing community, Alexandria House is grateful for the caring community of PRESENT NOW. We love seeing the bright smiles from the children when the big white boxes and purple ribbons arrive! Thanks to PRESENT NOW from Alexandria House!
Present Now continues to impress me with the work they do. It makes my heart happy to see a charity step in to help children who are experiencing such tremendous trauma. I’m so glad they are able to do what they do and they will always have my support!
Erica and Melanie had done a phenomenal job of growing Present Now to serve so many children in need.
I love volunteering for PRESENT NOW and stuffing the backpacks and gifts for the children. Each gift is so unique and special for each child who receives it.
PRESENT NOW supports children throughout CA living in domestic violence shelters. These children need as much support as possible while their mothers are surviving. PRESENT NOW brings these children joy throughout the year and their entire stay at the shelter. They are definitely making a change for their futures.
PRESENT NOW has been supporting children living in transitional domestic violence shelters since 2013. This charity is special in that each gift they present to the children is personalized and packaged with love. Three times per year PRESENT NOW acknowledges these children and alleviates the stress of the mother. No other charity does it quite like PRESENT NOW.
I have worked with many foundations and charities as a therapist and Present Now is exemplary of how raising awareness through esteemable acts of kindness and generosity can ripple through a community to provide connection and safety for those that need it.
Present Now works to spread happiness into the lives of those children and mothers whose lives have been torn apart by domestic violence with small but important things such as birthday cakes, school supplies and backpacks.
Present NOW give gifts to the children of our transitional shelter. It always comes on time and nicely displayed. The kids love it and are so happy to receive a gift for their birthday. Also when there is a special holiday, Present NOW always thinks about them. Great organization.