Testimonials 

Learn why The Giving Spirit volunteers return year after year.  See how you can get involved with this all-volunteer outreach to LA's homeless community.

Click here for 7 more Videos about our Leaders and Volunteers

9 year old Ruby recently had a school assignment to write about someone she knows who is making a difference in the world. She wrote about her experience with her family, and volunteers from California Pizza Kitchen, supporting The Giving Spirit.  Click here to see her full report.

“I made it my priority to give back this way because unlike other organizations, TGS is a hands-on service organization. I know exactly where my funds are going.”

                                                        Catherine Dill, LA Entrepreneur

“Simply put: We have so much; they have so little. It was easy to be inspired to act.”

                                 Tom Bagamane, Founder, The Giving Spirit

“My name is Julie Hartz and I am a teacher at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. A group of students and I organized a club at school which benefits this incredible organization. We attended the December event, our first-ever TGS event, and we all walked away better people who are more connected to the world around us.

As a teacher and mother, it has been an incredible experience to not only watch my students work their tails off for a purpose bigger than themselves, but to see them touch and interact with those who will benefit as a result of their compassion and commitment. TGS is a hands-on community service opportunity for all students everywhere. My dream is to see TGS develop a chapter on every school campus across southern California. If you are a teacher, student, parent or administrator and would like information as to how we successfully developed TGS at our school, email me at [email protected]”

                                                                                                                      Julie Hartz, teacher

___________________________________________

” ..My 13 yr. old son and I had the most amazing experience at the Christmas event. We unloaded trucks , packed the bags and hit the streets. The first gentleman we approached who looked very much in need , turned us down and said there were others down the street who needed it more. This was a story we heard several times that day, along with guiding us to others in need “just down the block” or “sitting on the corner”.

My son and I came away with the realization that not only are these folks just like us but many are kinder to those around them than some of our more affluent friends. A real eyeopener. The sad story however was a lovely lady who has been sitting on a bus bench at PCH and Sunset for over a month reading her Bible. We attempted to gift her with our bag and blanket and she refused us saying she was just waiting for her ride and couldn’t take all our stuff. That was her reality and how she survives on the street, she is still sitting there, wish we could have helped her.”

                                                                                                   The Giving Spirit – Volunteer

_______________

“Hi I’m Francine and I am a current student at Los Osos High School. I’ve always wanted to get out and go do something good for my community but I never knew how. The year, when my former spanish teacher, Mrs. Hartz, told me about The Giving Spirit I joined in a heartbeat. This is exactly how I wanted to give back to my community. I’ve grown up in an affluent community and I never thought about how serious the homeless situation was until I participated in the L.A. event in December. At first I was afraid and then I realized that the homeless are human beings, human beings just as much as you and me.

It was depressing to realize that there were so many people with absolutely nothing and we weren’t even seeing the majority of them. Our day was long and demanding but totally worth it. One woman was so grateful for the duffel bag and blanket we gave her that she began to cry. The TGS event in L.A. was a life changing experience, I can’t even describe the feeling. I hope that more people join this cause. We are all so privileged and I know we can all give something, even if its just a smile or a “hello”

                                                                                                           Francine – student

___________________________________________

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

                                                                                                          Elizabeth Andrews

___________________________________________

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”

                                                                                                   Mother Teresa

Volunteer. Give. Learn.