Union Rescue Mission

From razors and Cabbage Patch Kids to board games, blankets and clothing, community members and employees of Verdugo Hills Hospital (VHH) gave back to the homeless and working poor of Los Angeles County by supporting the efforts of the Union Rescue Mission?s (URM) Christmas Toy Drive during November at the hospital. More than 40 bags of toys and gifts were donated to the Mission. ?Verdugo Hills Hospital is an amazing place with a wonderful, giving staff,? said Reverend Andy Bales, CEO of URM. ?

BURBANK — Operators of the winter homeless shelter at the Burbank National Guard Armory are scrambling to find an alternate location capable of housing 50 of their clients during two planned closures of their current site. The Salvation Army of Burbank has agreed to take in up to 50 homeless people during the planned closures Feb. 6 to 8, and again for the same dates in March, but that would cover only half of the average crowd that uses the emergency winter shelter every night, said Carrie Gatlin, vice president of government relations and special project for the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles, which oversees the operation.

School holds first jog-a-thon event Mountain Avenue Elementary School held its first Jog-a-Thon fundraiser on Friday. The event raised money for the school?s computer lab and library and was organized by the school?s foundation, Mountain Avenue Committed to Kids. Students in kindergarten through sixth grades took turns running laps on the school?s upper field. Before the event, students found sponsors to donate money by the lap they ran or at a flat rate. The total money raised through the Jog-a-Thon won?

DOWNTOWN — A year after closing its doors amid a controversial stay in Burbank, the regional homeless shelter moved back to the National Guard Armory in Glendale, where despite seeing a 74% rise in the number of clients, operators reported a smooth winter season. The 150-capacity refuge in the 200 block of East Colorado Street served 958 homeless people between Dec. 1 and March 2, up from 549 in 2008-09. The typical nightly average of about 100 occupants skyrocketed to roughly 165, officials said.

Elms Convalescent celebrated National Nursing Home Week with lunch and thank-you gifts to its staff for its dedication to the seniors in its community on May 13 at 212 W. Chevy Chase Drive in Glendale. Genaro Navarro was honored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s office and the city of Glendale for his 35 years of service and loyalty to long-term health care. He has never called in sick in all of his 35 years. He is one example of the dedication of the staff here at Elms Convalescent, Elms officials said.