Maryann Boosalis Dana Sutherland Yelena Tkachenko Ruben Vargas FCS 408 Spring 2012

Content:  Introduction  About SOVA  Locations  SOVA Services  Donations  Volunteering  Personal Experiences  Conclusion

About SOVA SOVA is a community food and resource program run by Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles SOVA serves almost 12,000 people in the Los Angeles area regardless of age, ethnicity, and religion. Free groceries and support services are available to those who qualify. According to SOVA’s website, the organization provides: Sustenance: Free nutritious food that nourishes families, helps children perform better in school, and strengthens the elderly. Opportunity: Free on-site services including legal advocacy, job counseling, nutrition counseling, food stamp enrollment, information and referrals, case management and counseling. Volunteerism: Hundreds of people of all ages work together each week to support the program and the community. Advocacy: We reach out to the community and legislators in support of vulnerable members of society in need of food, opportunity and social services.

SOVA Video

Who Qualifies? Anyone, regardless of age, gender, or religious belief, can qualify to receive food, toiletries, and other services from SOVA. Income must be very low, at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $44,7000 for a family of four. SOVA will take certain situations into consideration when determining eligibility, for example a family crisis and the high cost of living in Los Angeles. Most people are eligible to receive food once a month, although some people may qualify to receive food more often.

METRO- West Hollywood 1140 N. La Brea Avenue, West Hollywood, CA WEST- West Los Angeles 8846 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA VALLEY- San Fernando Valley Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91406

SOVA Services Provide qualifying families with 5 days of groceries: Clients may receive groceries once each calendar month. Homeless clients without refrigeration or cooking accessibility may receive groceries twice a month. Clients have the opportunity to sit with a volunteer and tell them what type of foods they like they like to eat in order to customize their groceries. Clients also have the opportunity to specify special diet requirements such as a low sodium diet, low sugar diet, Kosher diet, etc.

SOVA Services Act as a resource center: Staff and volunteers refer clients to other community services in order to help them find solutions to other challenges. “Examples of referrals include shelter, free medical services, free vision care, homeless services, clothing resources, employment, senior services and child care.” The Community Connections “one-stop” program allows clients to see specialists in the community for “free legal counseling, job counseling, food stamp enrollment, Medi-Cal enrollment, and assistance with utility bills.”

A DIETITIAN/NUTRITION PROFESSIONAL CAN USE SOVA FOR CLIENT ANY CLIENT THAT MAKES BELOW 200% FEDERAL POVERTY LINE LIVES IN THREE AREAS