COMMUNITY

A New Harvest Home for the Holidays

Design firm and local nonprofit partner to transform lives of homeless expectant mothers

By Michele Robinson

With the holidays quickly approaching, residents at the new Harvest Home on Pico have something to be very thankful for. This new location, brought to life by a collaboration between RIOS and Harvest Home, welcomes unhoused new mothers and their babies into a safe and nurturing environment. “The time when women come into Harvest Home is a sacred moment,” said Zantika Ellis, Harvest Home alumni resident and current case manager at the Pico location. “They intend to build a life and family. We are very proud of our homes.” Harvest Home started on the Westside in 1985, when the founder welcomed an unhoused pregnant woman into her house. From this humble beginning, the first home was opened in Venice in 1989. From its inception, this space temporarily housed 10 women at a time and their babies.

PHOTO CREDITS: HUNTER KERHART ON BEHALF OF RIOS

Award-winning international architecture and design firm RIOS recently completed a probono project in collaboration with Santa Monica-based nonprofit Harvest Home to provide housing for homeless expectant mothers.

Over the years the number of people experiencing housing insecurity has increased. In 2015, it was estimated that there were about 5,000 pregnant unhoused women in Los Angeles. Due to this surge, Harvest Home began looking to expand its capacity. Thirty-seven years later, Harvest Home has opened its second location. Almost two-and-a-half years in the making (partly due to COVID-19 restrictions), the new Pico location welcomed its first residents in July. This new transitional facility can house up to 18 mothers and their newborns. Potential residents first live at the Venice location for 30 to 60 days when they are given initial support. From there, women who need additional support, transition to the Pico location where they can reside until the baby is up to 6 months old. “It is a two-step process,” Ellis said. “After the initial intake, which includes an online application, phone interview, mental health evaluation and in-person interview, we assess if they are the right fit.” Ellis has firsthand knowledge of living at Harvest Home. She lived at the Venice location from July 2020 to January 2021. Now working as a case manager, she mentors other women who find themselves in a similar situation. Harvest Home provided Ellis with a place to land and prepare for her daughter to be born when she unexpectedly lost housing due to COVID-19. Now Ellis lives an independent and

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productive life. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is returning to school in the fall to earn a master’s degree in social work. “We help residents get to where they want to go,” Ellis said. “We walk them through the process to help get them an education, job, career, or meet family goals. We build connections that help them back on their feet.” The Pico location is ideally suited as a transitional housing space because it originally belonged to the archdiocese and was a nunnery. In 2018, the archdiocese asked if Harvest Home wanted the property because the nuns were retiring. “We got a call from the Catholic Archdiocese, they didn’t know we were looking for a new space,” said Sarah Wilson, executive director of Harvest Home. “This building was well-suited for moms and babies. It is a nice space and needed some updating,” As a former nunnery, the space offered modest single-occupancy rooms with a private sink, wash basin and closet. There is a communal bathroom with showers and a shared kitchen space downstairs. It is similar to dormitory living, which is perfect for a mother and newborn. But it also needed updating to meet the needs of the programs including rooms for mothers with older children and making the former chapel usable for programming. “It is not just a house, it is a program,” said Huay Wee, architect at RIOS. “They need intimate space for meetings and gatherings.” In late fall 2019, Harvest Home supporter and commercial developer Matthew Howell connected Harvest Home with RIOS. Due to this introduction, RIOS took the project on pro bono. Wee, as a managing studio director, spearheaded the pro bono collaboration. RIOS is an award-winning international architecture and design firm. For the past 37 years, RIOS has been transforming spaces. Based in Leimert Park, it has offices both locally and globally. Although RIOS has done other pro bono projects this is the first collaboration with Harvest Home. RIOS, an award-winning international architecture and design firm, transformed Harvest Home into a comforting space for mothers and their babies. RIOS donated its efforts to create a beautiful living space, both inside and outside, for new mothers and their babies. Built in 1947, the space has windows in each room, giving it a light and bright feeling. The design team chose beautiful neutral pastel colors inside the living areas to bring a sense of calmness and because they want the women to feel comfortable. The courtyard offers privacy, safety, and meets the needs of the mothers. “It is now a lovely space,” Wee said. “There are places to connect for gatherings and education. There is an open dining room with lots of natural light and a private courtyard. We are also in the final stages of finishing up with landscaping.” Another positive aspect of this project is that it took a community’s effort to help improve this dwelling. Besides RIOS donating their time and efforts, other vendors also offered donations and discounts. The project received donations of baby cribs, beds, lighting, tile, and carpet. “It impacted the community we work in,” Wee said. “People are looking to make change in the world that is for the greater good.” With the Pico facility open and increasing temporary housing, new mothers can focus on important things. “Having a baby is stressful enough. We help the residents get everything they need to succeed and thrive,” Ellis said.

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Spreading Holiday Cheer

Annual Muscle Beach Toy Drive returns, thanks to Joe Wheatley and first responders

By Michele Robinson

The 15th annual Muscle Beach Toy Drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Organized by Joe Wheatley Productions, the toy drive spreads joy to local underserved children during the holiday season. With special guest appearances, the family event kicks off the holiday season with a little magic. The first Muscle Beach Toy Drive was in 2007. Wheatley was walking on a treadmill when the idea for the event struck him. He came home and told his wife, Christine, that he wanted to do a toy drive. She was a bit hesitant and asked how he planned to get the toys to the kids. “I don’t know all of the details yet, but I will figure them out,” Wheatley told her. He not only figured it out, but he found success. To find out who needed the toys, he reached out to his friend and longtime Venice resident, Jill Prestup. She put him in contact with the Venice Bible Tabernacle Church, who agreed to accept and distribute the toys. Academy Award-winning actress and former Venice resident, Anjelica Huston, was the first person to donate toys to the inaugural event, which ultimately raised $250 and collected 300 toys. In 2009, Wheatley decided to partner with the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division Winter Wonderland Toy Drive Giveaway. The Pacific Division Police Substation is located adjacent to the Venice Beach Recreation Center, which

PHOTO CREDITS: ABE LOJERO

The 15th annual Muscle Toy Drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, on the Venice Boardwalk. is the location for the Muscle Beach toy dropoff.

“It was a no-brainer to partner with the LAPD Pacific Division distribution drive,” Wheatley said. Last year, the Muscle Beach Toy Drive raised approximately $8,000 and collected several thousand toys. The money raised from the drive goes to the Pacific Area Boosters, a nonprofit organization that supports the LAPD Pacific Division Cadets Program. Diane Barretti is the current president of the Pacific Area Boosters.

Now that the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, this year is expected to be the best, Wheatley said. Starting at 10 a.m., the Pacific Division LAPD Color Guard Cadets will kick off the festivities to the national anthem.

Immediately following will be the Lat Pull Down competition. Contestants must pull down a close grip bar to their sternum for a maximum number of reps. Women pull 50% of their body weight, while men pull 60%. There is no time limit, but if there is more than a 3-second interval, it is their last pull. The top three male and female winners will receive gift boxes provided by Wheatley’s generous sponsors. To enter the contest they must bring in a new unwrapped toy of around $20 in value. At 12:30 p.m. the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club will arrive with toys strapped to the back of their motorcycles. Then Santa and his Elvettes are scheduled to come on their sleigh, provided by LAPD Pacific Division, from the North Pole to the Venice Muscle Beach Toy Drive at 1 p.m. Santa will ride down the Boardwalk, greet fans, and offer photo opportunities. Santa and the Elvettes will join Wheatley and hand out the special certificates of appreciation to the sponsors. The certificates are signed by Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office and awarded to those helping with the drive. Event T-shirts will also be distributed to attendees. After the events, around 15 to 20 LAPD cruisers will pick up the toys and bring them to the Pacific Division Station in Culver City. Their distribution drive this year will take place at the Venice and Westchester Boys and Girls Club, Mar Vista YMCA, Mar Vista Family Center, Oakwood Recreation Center, and HUD Housing during the second week of December. For Wheatley, doing a toy drive for all of these years is very meaningful to him. “It has a special place in my heart because it is giving back,” he said. “Over the years, it has made thousands of kids happy. When the toys go to a child, it makes an impact on their lives.”

Muscle Toy Drive

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 WHERE: Venice Boardwalk COST: Free admission; donated toys should be new, unwrapped and around $20 in value. The toys will be collected at the Venice Beach Recreation Center, located at 1800 Ocean Front Walk. INFO: musclebeachvenice.com

Organized by Joe Wheatley Productions, the toy drive spreads joy to local underserved children during the holiday season.

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“HESITATIONS” (11/17/22) By JILL RAFALOFF & MICHELLE SONTARP