HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: LOIS KNOWLTON AND BONNIE BARANOFF SPEAK OUT ON HELPING HOMELESS IN LA MESA

Listen to our interview,  originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM, by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2017 (La Mesa) – This Thursday, La Mesa Conversations will host an event at Johnny B’s Restaurant in La  Mesa from 5:30 to 7 :30 p.m.  on homelessness in La Mesa.  We sat down with Bonnie Baranoff, a steering committee member from La Mesa Conservations, and with Lois Knowlton from the La Mesa First United Methodist Church on signicant progress helping the homeless—and how you can help. 

The church holds regular events to help the homeless get back on their feet, offering clothes for job interviews, haircuts and meals.  The church has long helped homeless people who showed up on their doorstep.  Now, church leaders aim to take that to a higher level by creating La Mesa’s first temporary shelter for homeless people in the church’s basement.

Knowlton explained that homelessness is on the rise in the La Mesa area, with an estimated 200 homeless students now in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.

You can help by coming to the event this Thursday, March 23^rd and bringing items to benefit the homeless—such as clothing and packaged, non-perishable foods. 

You can also volunteer to help with the church’s outreach mission by calling (619)466-4163.

For more information on La Mesa Conversations, visit www.LaMesaConversations.org.