Neighborhood Council Funding Program APPLICATION for Neighborhood Purposes Grant (NPG)

This form is to be completed by the applicant seeking the Neighborhood Purposes Grant and submitted to the Neighborhood Council from whom the grant is being sought. All applications for grants must be reviewed and approved in a public meeting. Upon approval of the application the Neighborhood Council (NC) shall submit the application along with all required documentation to the Office of the City Clerk, NC Funding Program.

Name of NC from which you are seeking this grant: WESTCHESTER

SECTION I- APPLICANT INFORMATION

1a)

1b)

1c)

Organization Name Federal I.D. # (EIN#) State of Incorporation Date of 501(c)(3)

Status (if applicable)

Organization Mailing Address City State Zip Code

Business Address (If different) City State Zip Code

1d) PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name

2) Type of Organization- Please select one:

Phone Email

Public School (not to include private schools) or 501(c)(3) Non-Profit (other than religious institutions)

Attach Signed letter on School Letterhead Attach IRS Determination Letter

3) Name / Address of Affiliated Organization (if applicable) City State Zip Code

SECTION II - PROJECT DESCRIPTION

4) Please describe the purpose and intent of the grant.

5) How will this grant be used to primarily support or serve a public purpose and benefit the public at-large.

PAGE 1 NCFP 107

GRASS ROOTS NIEGHBORS 84-1784513 CA JUNE 2019

8600 TUSCANY ST, #206 PLAYA DEL REY CA 90293-8697

STEPHANIE POPESCU (424) 2O9 2777 grassrootsneighbors@gmail.com

X

6804. VISTA DEL MAR LANE PLAYA DEL REY CA 90293

(Grants cannot be used as rewards or prizes for individuals)

Grass Roots Neighbors (GRN) is a volunteer community organization. We meet the immediate needs of ourneighbors experiencing food and housing insecurity. We mobilize to fill the gaps in existing services byproviding assistance with love and respect.

Since 2013 we have provided over 100 fresh, nutritious, and delicious meals to unhousedneighbors weekly. We have also delivered countless items such as clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags.Since early April GRN has received increased support from the community and moved into a donated 800 sqst space in PDR. This location has enabled us to shift and expand our service to help Westchester/PDRfamilies experiencing recent unemployment. In the last few weeks we have delivered groceries to over 50neighbors in need. This project will support us to help at least 80 additional families in Westchester/PDRthrough the end of the year.

Since late March, when the COVID-19 crisis took hold in Los Angeles, Grassroots Neighbors (GRN) has experienced an increased demand for our service. The grant will be used to help us more effectively serve food and deliver essential goods to Westchester/Playa del Rey neighbors in need due to the current economic downturn. GRN requests funds to purchase cleaning supplies, tables to manage food donations and money for grocery store gift cards. (please see attached itemized request)

Funds from WCWP will be supported by cash from individual donors ($4000) and in-kind donations from Food Not Bombs, Legado Co., People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER) and Food Forward (partial list).

You’ve almost finished your Neighborhood Purposes Grant application! One last item, it’s an important item that holds equal weight as we review and evaluate grant requests. How will the community learn about your project and your NCWP award that helped make it possible? How will you recognize the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa? As you know, your project must offer a community benefit, improvement and/or enhancement. Please be thoughtful and creative about recognizing the NCWP, your funding partner. How would you recognize your Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, if awarded a grant? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

Westchester NC Grant Project Budget Grass Roots Neighbors Org. Budget201920192020 (projected)

Income Income

Westchester NC grant $4,702 Monthly Donations, Paypal $1,200 $1,800In-Kind, See Org Budget Donations, Paypal $1,800 $2,500

$4,702 Donations, Cash $500 $500

Expense Event $800 $1,500

Costco Grants $800 $5,200

Toilet Bowl Cleaner, 4 $18 Total $5,100 $11,500Dawn Dish Soap, 90oz $13 Expense

Hand Sanitizer, 8 - 32 oz. $36 Equipment $1,200 $3,2006' Folding Table, qty 4 $300 Containers, Utensils $800 $900Kirkland Toilet Paper, 30 ct $20 Food $1,600 $5,200Uline Paypal Fees $100 $150Simple Green 1 gal, 2 $30 Event $350 $350

Powder Laundry Detergent, 50lbs $70 Admin $300 $300

Paper Towel Dispenser $50 Total $4,350 $10,100Paper Towel, 3 fold, 2 case $70Latex Gloves, 4 of 100 $32 2019 Reserve $840

SUBTOTAL $639sales tax $63$50 grocery gift cards, qty 80 $4,000

REQUEST TOTAL $4,702 Budget Notes In Kind Donations

Holy Nativity Episcopal Church donates use of kitchen space and equipment. $40/hr x 5 hrs/week x 52 weeks $10,400Holy Nativity Episcopal Church donates use of kitchen space and equipment. $40/hr x 5 hrs/week x 26 weeks. + Legado donated space $2,000/mox 6 mo $17,200

Food Forward gleans excess produce from Brentwood Farmers Market every Sunday. $ unspecified

Food Not Bombs donates 10lbs of rice and beans every month $455 $455

Volunteers shop, cook, clean and deliver GRN meals = 37 hrs/week x $13.5/hr $25,974 $25,974

Westchester Neighborhood Council Community Grant 2020

Our Mission Grass Roots Neighbors is a volunteer community organization. We meet the immediate needs of our neighbors experiencing food and housing insecurity. We mobilize to fill the gaps in existing services by providing assistance with love and respect.

Our Story: In 2019, Grass Roots Neighbors (GRN) incorporated as a nonprofit with the vision of expanding on the Feed the People program. Today, our volunteers come from many walks of life, but all are concerned community members who want to help their neighbors in need. Each Sunday afternoon our volunteers prepare food and in the evening 120 boxed meals are delivered to the unhoused along the Venice boardwalk. In early May GRN moved into a donated space in Playa Del Rey. When we opened this space we began receiving requests from local families experiencing economic insecurity. For each request take into consideration the family’s dietary needs to provide balanced and nutritional food. We also aim to provide needed toiletries and supplies for babies as requested.

Our volunteers and partners have deep roots in Westchester/PDR and on the Westside. Early on, volunteers at the Venice Learning Garden / Seed Library of Los Angeles collected surplus vegetables and provided a space to work once a week. Venice Neighborhood Council and People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER) provided seed money to cover costs for outreach, equipment and supplies. Today food is gleaned from farmers markets by Food Forward, a gathering/kitchen space is provided by Legado and Food not Bombs donates rice and beans. We have expanded our collaborations during the COVID-19 pandemic and have established partnerships with Parenting in Westchester and Covid19 Mutual Aid Los Angeles.

Grass Roots Neighbors supports those suffering among us with healthy food provided without restrictions by kind and loving neighbors.

Grass Roots Neighbors • 424-209-2777 • grassrootsneighbors@gmail.com

Westchester Neighborhood Council Community Grant 2020

Grass Roots Neighbors Board of Directors

Vlad Popescu, President Manager, Gum Gum Applied Computer Vision

Dorit Hanover, Treasurer Core Grassroots Neighbor volunteer

Stephanie Popescu, Secretary Social Worker and Homeless Advocate

Danah Ezekial-Clark Venice Resident, Co-Founder Venice Family Daycare

Nicole Berholet Preschool Teacher

Jackie Cohen Regional Director El Nido Family Center

Mary Beth Trautwein

Key Staff Names: Stephanie Popescu, Secretary Stephanie Popescu, MSW obtained her Master's in Social Work at CSU Long Beach. She was a founding organizer of the Feed the People program in Venice and has been active in advocating for the homeless for the past 6 years. Throughout her career, Stephanie has specialized in working with patients who are experiencing chronic medical and mental health concerns, which has led to working with those experiencing homelessness. Stephanie has previously worked in the VASH program to house chronically homeless veterans in the LA area. Most recently she has been employed at Southern California Hospital at Culver City, where she piloted a program for patients experiencing co-occurring medical and psychiatric needs as well as homelessness.

Vlad Popescu, President Vlad Popescu is a refugee. As a child he fled with his parents from Romania to Austria in 1990 and then emigrated to Los Angeles in 1994. He attended Venice High School and now he is a software engineer during the day and activists by night. Having experienced first hand what it's like to sleep on the floor of an overcrowded refugee center, he vividly remembers the positive difference that generous, good hearted people made in his life. Now that he's a father, he is determined to work with the community to both lend a helping hand to those who need it most

Grass Roots Neighbors • 424-209-2777 • grassrootsneighbors@gmail.com

Westchester Neighborhood Council Community Grant 2020

Grass Roots Neighbors • 424-209-2777 • grassrootsneighbors@gmail.com

Westchester Neighborhood Council Community Grant 2020

GRN partners with Parenting in Westchester, PDR, and PV. Carey Begbie Westerfield and Ahmanise Santicame by to kick off a donation drive for moms in the community. Community coming together to take care of our neighbors in need is what we are all about.

Grass Roots Neighbors • 424-209-2777 • grassrootsneighbors@gmail.com