The original Rest Cottage was founded at the turn of the century by Deacon Lillian B. Flanders of the Methodist Hospital as a temporary home for women to rest and recuperate. Ms. Flanders deeded her home, known as the Rest Cottage, to The Ebell in 1917 because of the work The Ebell Social Service Committee had performed on her behalf (sewing clothes for and bringing food to the patients). When the Rest Cottage became financially untenable and was sold in 1980, the proceeds were used to establish an endowment to support women in Los Angeles. Since then, The Ebell Rest Cottage Association (RCA) has been managing the funds and awarding grants to women’s organizations throughout the county. This year, the RCA will distribute $161,000 to the following 12 charities:
Critical Mass Dance Company’s Women Empowerment Program helps participants to reconnect to their bodies, heal trauma and build resilience in community through dance.
Families and Criminal Justice-MIRACLE Project provides relationship-based services for young justice-involved mothers who are pregnant or parenting young children. This includes home visits to meet, observe, educate and provide support to mothers of infants.
Journey House provides support towards the education of youths who have aged out of foster care.
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice provides expert legal guidance and representation for victims of non-partner sexual assault. They help survivors to understand their rights and receive coordinated social services to help them recover from trauma.
Journey Out provides aid for victims of sex trafficking with an emphasis on career training for future success.
New Directions for Veterans provides housing and comprehensive support for homeless veterans and their families. Our grant will be used to purchase a van to transport female Veterans from a transitional housing unit to appointments to find supportive, permanent housing.
Mental Health Advocacy Services’ Maternal Health Legal Project provides dedicated legal advocates to low-income pregnant women and new mothers who have mental health disabilities. Their advocates guide the women though the myriad legal issues that they might face.
The FID Group (Friends in Deed) provides a drop-in facility where homeless women can do laundry, get warm meals, shower, relax and build community with others.
Treasures Ministries provides care, recovery and emergency services to women trapped in commercial sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Union Rescue Mission/Hope Gardens will use its grant to help fund their Workforce Development and Case Management programs, as well as providing activities, care and case management for 25 senior women who live permanently at Hope Gardens Family Center.
Upward Bound House/Bright Futures’ Maternity Group Home is a residential program serving pregnant and parenting young women aged 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness.
WeSpark Cancer Support Center provides critical resources for women, and their families, who have been diagnosed with cancer.
On a final note, make sure you attend the annual RCA Luncheon on Monday, April 10. It promises to be a wonderful event.
