Susan and Oliver Stark from San Marino Community Church were honored last weekend at “Jazz on the Screen,” a fundraiser for social services agency Friends In Deed.
“The Starks have been stalwart supporters of Friends In Deed since 2016. Initially, this was through their church, San Marino Community Church, which has been a mission partner with Friends In Deed for very many years — and for a while Susan was the liaison between SMCC and FID,” an event spokesperson said. “Friends In Deed has also enjoyed generous support from the Foundation of San Marino Community Church.
“The Starks and their church have had a particularly close association with the Women’s Room, putting together ‘love kits’ for our ladies for Mother’s Day, containing things like socks, flip-flops and nail polish. Oliver says that delivering these gifts in person made a big impact on him. But they also feel a strong connection to the Street Outreach Team, appreciating the work it does to reach people who might otherwise slip under our radar.
“To sum up, FID’s ethos of ‘Compassion, Connection and Dignity’ is one that particularly appeals to Susan and Oliver, and Susan says that she thinks the working out of this ethos is demonstrated by the ‘family’ feel of our organization and the way in which our clients sometimes return to us as volunteers, not wanting to lose touch with our community.
“While a social gathering was not possible this year, Friends In Deed planned the celebration to be interactive and the event supports those who can’t be ‘safe at home’ — the homeless and disadvantaged of our community,” the spokesperson added.
In addition to the Starks, honorees included Grocery Outlet in Altadena and First Congregational Church of Pasadena. These individuals and organizations have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the needs of the Pasadena community and are dedicated supporters of Friends In Deed’s mission and programs. For her service to Friends In Deed as a board member as well as with the United Methodist Church, Bishop Beverly Shamana was recognized as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
For more than 125 years, Friends In Deed, a social services agency in Pasadena, has continued to focus on alleviating the effects of poverty for our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Proceeds support its Food Pantry; the Women’s Room, a day shelter for homeless and at-risk women; Bad Weather Shelter; Street Outreach Team, which works to end homelessness on the streets of Pasadena; and Homelessness Prevention Program, which provides rental assistance for folks threatened with eviction. Friends In Deed is committed to providing a dignified experience for all its clients and the ongoing fight for long-term sustainable housing for all.
“In these challenging times, community support is even more critical to continue to provide our services with the compassion, connection and dignity that our guests and clients have come to love and appreciate,” said Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, executive director of Friends In Deed. “The number of people in need is growing by the week.”
For information regarding donations, email office@friendsindeedpas.org or call (626) 797-2402, ext. 201.
