The Midnight Mission

Hello I am Latsha and I would just like to give Honor were Honor is Due. I was going thru a really bad and abusive relationship for years . I began using drugs and there was a Guy working at the gate when I had been up all night and hurt and hungry he was different and he said that this Mission is faith based and it is co-ed and have programs . The only thing I could do was cry and this man cried with me at that moment I chanced. I later on looked for this guy but he disappeared but I will never forget him or his name Sandy . God bless you were ever you are .

To people that have put good reviews. Are u just that dumb?? I've been there a week and it's horrible just horrible no one there cares and they state they are 24 hours but they are not. I was on my monthly and they wouldn't even let me use the restroom I bled on my only pair of pants and they couldn't even help get another pair I had to be like that all night!!!! They dnt care there at all

Wonderful resources and staff that care about you. :) I didn't complete the recovery program here but if ur serious about recovery this is the place to go! They help out.

Great place we'll versed in the fellowship and program of AA great alumni" s coming and share there experiences and weaknesses as well. And Bible based great place to focus of God and his will for your life.

I think people don't know that they were suppose to use money, and buy credit. If you buy secured credit card after credit card. It builds wealth. They will have more for their hard work.

Thank you excited for my sister's new journey here. I plan to donate money here. Thank you to all the employees and volunteers. It is a true lifeline for temporary housing and helping people become independent

I just wanted to know are walk-ins welcome?? Does everyone that comes have their own rooms and what not?? And if I was to come here ever how would this place change my life??

The Midnight Mission in Skid Row is a true lifeline for those in need. Their dedication to providing food, shelter, and support services is unmatched. The staff is compassionate and truly cares about helping people turn their lives around. Highly recommend their work in the community! 5 stars!

My experience was not what I expected, long story short I gave umbrellas to two women out on the street at night the were on the way to shelter. One of the women was so cold and wet she could not even hold the umbrella. I decided to drive them my self to this shelter. We get there and the security guard or person sitting in the chair with a table in front of him right before to can go inside told us w3 had to leave they had no more room. I asked if they could stay under the patio out side in the court yard. There wasn't anyone there and was dry for them at least keeping them out of the cold and raining weather. He said no you must leave and go out side. I told him they need shelter from the elements out side. They don't have anyplace to go there is no one in the court yard. He said oh you're not with them? I told him no I drove them here bought them food and hot chocolate. He then said oh don't worry I will make sure they are taken care of. This wasn't until he found out I wasn't with them. Then he was nice as he wasn't very nice at first. This was heartbreaking for me I told him are you sure you are going to let them stay he said yes don't worry. But I did worry me on their treatment. To have the heart to throw these two young ladies out in the hard rain and cold weather. If I wasn't there what would they have done. Very concerned on the treatment of the individual seeking help. This happens last night November 20th 2025 at 9:20pm as I didn't get the persons info that was not so nice to us until he found out I was not in need of shelter and I was just helping the women out.

Very easy to make a donation. You pull into the underneath parking garage and you can drop off clothing/bedding items and even hot or cold fridge. Donations are 24/7, it took me less than 3 minutes. Good to know the items go directly to the people housed there and others in skid row.

I went because the ratings on yelp sounded like it was super easy to donate, so I made a 45 minute trip to be able to give gently used toys that were pricy. When I got there, they said they don't take in toys unless it's brand new and just for Christmas. Just thought people should know. It wasn't posted on their website. I'm glad it's easier for everything else.

I had had a bad review on the mission but the program is good if you really want to change they helped me alot I just wrote it cause I was mad but realized they been nothing but good to me

They make donations a breeze! In and out in just 5 minutes. Pull into the parking structure and drop off your goods. I will always donate here!

****DONATION REVIEW**** After my father passed away, my brother and I were able to pack up a few bags of lightly used clothes for donation. We were fortunately enough to find the Midnight Mission (MM) to donate his clothes for a good cause. Yes, the MM is in Downtown LA amongst the tent cities. The mission itself is actually very nice inside. For people who want to drop off donations, you drive on San Pedro and turn into their underground parking lot (there are signs saying donation center). It's a quick process and the mission opens late for donations (11pm). The guys manning the lot and donation area were cool and helped with the bags. We were in and out in less than 15 minutes. MM even gave us a donation letter for taxes or receipt purposes. It was an easy process and I encourage anymore looking to donate to come to the MM, Midnight Mission.

I went to drop off donations and the person was very helpful and very nice and grateful!

If you are looking to volunteer, go somewhere else. There are a ton of way better orgs that support homeless people. I came to volunteer with a group and was excited to get started, unfortunately some guy from public affairs, Joey, came to speak with us for an entire hour and spent half of it talking about himself and spreading misinformation (about why women don't seek out homeless shelters as much as men) to a bunch of volunteers who are just learning about this for the first time. I'm here to volunteer, not to hear staff's life story! If you are completely new to working with homeless people, do NOT take this org's word for the truth. Do your own research. Do not let Joey tell you a bunch of crap about how he's memorized stats and that they're accurate--stats literally change every year and you can tell he has no other priorities other than fueling his ego, and that is NOT what nonprofit work is about. I even approached Joey about this misleading information he was spreading, and Joey got immediately defensive, began to bulldoze me in the conversation, villanized me by saying I was "out to get him" with my "negative attitude." I was so shocked. I just wanted to chat about it and share what I knew working for years in nonprofit and working with homeless youth. It was horrifying the way he responded. I left immediately. People like this should not work in nonprofit and should not be in charge of working with volunteers. If you are passionate and want to help, consider volunteering with the following organizations instead: - Saint Francis Center - Chrysalis - Lava Mae - Downtown Women's Center - Project Ropa P.S. All opinions are my own and are not reflective of the orgs I volunteer with. I'm saying this because there was a petty email sent after I left the event (by whom I won't say, but take a gander!).

Please, please come here to donate your goods!!! Soooo safe and easy. Don't be afraid just because I was....lol! Truly, this is on skid row, but the donation setup is more than clean and safe!!! Please know Salvation Army and Goodwill are a business and make $ off of your items. Look it up on the Internet....disgusting. Please drive a bit further, head to the underground parking at the Midnight Mission! It is incredible! Someone is always there to greet you and help you. It is absolutely incredible ! Donate here and only here!!

I stayed here for about a week, it is truly not bad. I had a lot of fun. They do keep the place very clean, they pressure wash the courtyard pretty much every day with a bleach, water solution and promptly clear away trash that is left sitting around. They do have 24 hour restrooms that are kept quite clean, and for what people would tend to expect from a shelter it would be considered very clean. There is usually a bathroom attendant in the vicinity. There is a shower area in the back of the bathroom, it is a push button type of shower, meaning that it will not just stay on. You have to keep pressing the button, but it is very clean and the water is very warm. They can provide a pretty good amount of basic toiletry amenities, toothbrush/toothpaste, two in one shampoo and conditioner, body creams, tampons and pads, etc., if you need some thing it's worthwhile to give an ask and see if they have it. The food is very good, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are not stingy with the food, you can have as much as you want as long as supplies last. The sleep safe hours are from 7 PM until 4 AM, during this time, they usually bring out coffee and pastries that you can enjoy until your heart is content. Just keep a tight grip on belongings, of course because, there's no way to be sure with that sort of thing in this type of setting no matter what. Did you have a computer lab but I am unsure as to rules about using it or anything like that, I didn't get to explore that side of things. They do offer laundry services for free, you can give your laundry to someone and they will take it into the laundry room and then return it back to you in a bag. When I did my laundry, they were using tide pods. But I think that thing would be circumstantial, depending on what products were donated at the time. I am visually impaired, so I needed some assistance due to that, the staff were all really excellent and very attentive to helping me with everything that I needed.

And just when you think that humans don't care about each other...you come across a place like The Midnight Mission... TMM is a place that welcomes all comers. All you need is even the slightest spark of desire for help (or to be helpful) and even that is negotiable. The staff and participants truly redefine what it means to be human-kind- for they are both. If you feel the need to do good or you need help,. either large or small, I strongly suggest you give this place a shot.

Easy to drop off items in the parking garage under the building. So necessary for those who really need t shirts, socks, pants shirts, etc. sweaters. Coats. Yes. You have to drive through skid row to get to the underground parking garage. It's heartbreaking and think how those poor unhoused people feel if we feel bad just seeing them- imagine being them. So help out however you can.

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, there are a few blocks where an enormous amount of homeless people roam and sleep on the side walk. It is called Skid Row. During normal daylight, if one wondered into the area, one may think that the world is ending with that zombie apocalypse we've been longed for. There are tents, trash, and half awaken people, everywhere. I am rather familiar with the area, because of a couple of rotations I've had in the past at the Union Rescue Mission, which is sponsored by USC. Volunteering at the Midnight Mission was a first. The facility is designed to rehabilitate the homeless by entering them into a 90 day program to help them learn a skill or two, and get them into a job or an apartment. As the program has space and open doors for anyone who walks in, many just reluctant to ask for help. That is unfortunate, but even God can only help those who helps themselves. The cafeteria doesn't offer the best menu, but it is free. People can come in for food, drink, snack, during designated hours. Some people would bring containers, to fill up more reserve for their families. It really makes one think how blessed we are. Not sure if I would volunteer for the same event again in the future. A lot of the people do smell rather like urine. It was a tremendous change of scene from working with patients at the clinic, where they would shower, clean, and dress presentable. The cafeteria is a place where anyone who wonders and get fed. As unwilling that I might be, I would have to admit that I contracted a case of "first world country" syndrome. I would recommend to try to become a volunteer at least once in your life, for the shocking and awakening experience. And if you do have more to spare, donate to help them.

Was a great place to donate some items. Is open for donations 24/7 although I would not recommend going at night as it is in a rough part of town. The mission takes clothing, bedding and toys.

Easy and secure drop off. Please donate here and the women's shelter if you can. thank you midnight mission for your work.

This is a spectacular place. I come here every hear the day AFTER Thanksgiving to help serve lunch and dinner to the homeless population in DTLA. This is primarily a men's facility. They provide counseling, 12 step programs, schooling and all that a person needs to get back on their feet. They run this facility on individual donations and a few grants. The kitchen in mainly staffed by volunteers within the rehab program as well as individual volunteers such myself. They have a friendly department to schedule/manage volunteers from outside the facility to insure their is enough help on a daily basis. For any first time volunteer, I encourage you to request a tour of the facility an hour before your scheduled time. The tours are given by a professionally dressed and well spoken resident in the program. In the tour you will learn the history of the building, all that the Midnight Mission has to offer and the personal story of the person giving the tour. The facilities are clean. The kitchen and dinning room are well equipped. It's a safe place for the residents and a safe place for volunteers. Security is good. Parking is limited, but has always been available when I come. Parking lot is staffed by a security person. Children over 4ft tall are welcome to volunteer with an adult. I encourage anyone to at least come here once per year.

Wow! Gods timing is always on point! We had a large going away party and had an incredible amount of food left over and it was close to midnight. So I packed all the food in my car and planned to take it to skid row. Then I thought well let me see if a shelter is open and can take it. I was in a "Midnight Mission" for real! They are incredible!!!! Hector and Anthony met me at the gate and helped get the food out of the car. They were so very cool. Thankful that the food will go to great use vs in the trash. Nice to see that in this large and what can be at times a very cold world, that there are still warm people! Thank you gentlemen, may those who support you increase exponentially! Godspeed

I am currently downsizing my home. My mom suggested that I take my donations downtown. I thought it was a great idea and it was! I know there are many displaced people that are there. I was happy to give clothes and bags and suitcases to help the need. I hope I can give more soon. I enjoyed knowing my things can help others and hope to help also. The staff is nice and helpful. I do like that the hours are early until late evening.

I stayed at the library of this place in the winter of 2007 with my mother and sister as a child, this truly was the stepping stone that gave my family hope all those years ago. I don't know where we would have been if we didn't find this place

Had an amazing time volunteering at the Midnight Mission this past weekend. I'm glad the city provides an outstanding daily service to those who are in need of food and shelter. Easy set up - Provided my available dates to the volunteer coordinator, Joey Weinert, and he quickly responded with detailed instructions on parking, service, and what to expect. He informed us that weekend services tend to be booked and most services are needed on the weekdays. They provide services for breakfast 6-9am, lunch 11-2pm, and dinner 3-6pm with about 10-20 volunteers per service meal. We volunteered for the 11-2pm lunch service. Safe, underground parking structure with a kind attendant present. Take the elevator up and check-in with the security at the front who will provide you with your volunteer pass and guide you where to go. From 11-12:30pm you are in the kitchen helping staff prepare the meals. Staff was very professional and awesome! Such a tight knit family. Big shout out to Maria and Ramon who welcomed us with open arms and made sure we were comfortable the entire time. They certainly lightened up the environment. From 12:30-1:30pm each volunteer is assigned a specific lunch service - varies from giving out the rice, protein, veggies, salads, drinks, etc. It's truly a humbling experience to give back to the community. Many are very thankful for your contribution. *Note - We had a slight altercation with one of the guests who attempted to throw the rice back at my boyfriend (wanted an extra scoop of rice, however we were instructed to give just one). Understandable given the circumstances. My boyfriend did not complain BUT somehow the staff got a hold of the exchange and Ramon immediately apologized and asked if he was ok. The security guard also asked if he was hurt or needed to be excused. Another staff asked if there's anything they can do and was very apologetic about the situation. They instructed us to call security in case the guest returns. He eventually did - and security/staff quickly responded and escorted the man out of the building. Top notch security and staff!! From 1:30-2pm all of the guests are excused and the volunteers help clean the dining room area. What a great experience. I look forward to volunteering at the Midnight Mission again.

I normally do not prefer to leave negative reviews, especially during these critical and apprehensive days...However I found my experience to be appalling to say the least. Truly, I was very eager to donate as I read heartening information about the organization and I do want to point out that I am not dishonoring or intending to offend any individual. I do have the right to voice my opinion in a respectful manner. I collected many essential items that I believed would be beneficial, organized everything by category and drove to Midnight Mission. As I entered the parking lot, I kindly asked the gentleman sitting there where do I drop the items off. He responded in such a rude tone and bulldozed me as if I were speaking to him with an attitude, when in reality he was the one attacking me for no justifiable reason. I could not help but think to myself, "would he have approached me differently if I looked different?" I asked him where do I park my car? He pointed his finger and said "there! Can't you see?" To say that I was fuming would be a lie. To be honest, I spent a lot of time, money and did a fair amount of research to donate and NEVER do I expect a dime in return. I guess I was not expecting to be disrespected and be given an attitude for attempting to do a good deed. Point being? Individuals like this SHOULD NOT work in a nonprofit organization and I will not be volunteering or donating here anymore. This is my experience and it is not a reflection of the overall mission of the organization as I am sure they do their part to aid and support all ages, genders, and races in need. It is just is saddening that one individual can tarnish it all...

Super easy to donate here took less than a minute. You do have to drive into the underground parking but it's easy and more than do able, please donate to shelters instead of thrift stores so many people here in downtown need more than donations.

The Midnight Mission was and still is an great experience for me as a participant. I was able to accomplish all of my goals here and mainly with helping me to be and staying sober through it all. Like getting rid of traffic tickets I had along with getting my drivers licenses in the the process. I give me all to what they offer because the results up to this point has been met.

5 star rated!!?? Really?! I DON'T THINK SO.... Every year I go out of my way to donate money and any extra clothing to centers that actually help the less fortunate, and this year (2017) I wanted to give to this highly rated center. Well, to my surprise I received the absolute worst treatment when I called them today for information. I called the 213-624-9258 number they have posted on their website and the guy (Michael) who answered the phone apparently had a speech impediment because his greeting was lazy and incoherent, but ok, no worries, I decided to work through it, but it only got worse. After a few more questions and several delayed, short and confusing answers I had maxed out all of my patience. So, I asked to speak to a supervisor/manager, only for my request to be met with disgusting disrespect. The scumbag phone operator then told me and I quote "maybe you can donate your skirts somewhere else" and after asking him to repeat himself he hung up on me. I immediately called back and this low life answered the phone again, and before I could utter a word he advised me to make my donation somewhere else, and again hung up on me. It's a sad day when someone tries to do a good thing only to be met with repulsive behavior. I can only imagine what the less fortunate have to go through at this place, sad. Oh well, my $1500 check and all of the clothing I have standing by will have to go to a more professional and caring center.

So if you're a multi-purpose type of person. This review is for you. Two reasons why you should donate right about now: 1. If you haven't noticed, it's kinda cold for living in So Cal. If you have old clothes, shoes, jackets, sweaters or blankets that are just taking up space in your closets. Bring 'em here. Midnight Mission makes it quick and easy to drop off your shit. 2. By donating stuff you don't use anymore, you'll fix a #firstworldproblems of not having any room in the closet for new clothes or shoes. Out with the old. In with the new. http://instagr.am/p/aiCM_/ See what I did here, I multi-purposed the review with 4 of my favorite phone apps ... Instagram, Quadcam, Twitter and Yelp. PS - read my original review to see how I really feel about donating at the Midnight Mission. Check out the hashtag #firstwordproblems on Twitter. Hilarious stuff.

Great things are being done here. Volunteers are hailed as heroes for helping out. Came here for Mai L.'s Easter brunch event. I thought we were going to get fed here like a brunch event. Was I so wrong. It was on Easter Sunday and I drove around to get to the parking since the street was blocked off for the event. The security gives me this odd look as I approach until I ask where do the volunteers check in. They point me towards the entrance and allow me to get in without any problems. I signed in and was told to wait as the duties are coming up with the chef. We are to put on plastic aprons, hair nets and rubber gloves. Boy, do I feel like the cook line at the state penn straight out of the show Prison Break. We were then brought out to the street after the instructions on what to do and we attack the food. No, we weren't the ones eating but we were serving everyone who was seated. We were told that we should hydrate, take breaks, sun screen was offered as well. We started the food service at 11AM and we ran out of food by 2PM. I went non-stop trying to help serve as many people as possible. There were a girl volunteer and one of the chef that was worried about getting the musicians fed but in my mind, I have the luxury of going somewhere to buy myself a meal while we were serving people that could not do that. There were also workers who came from the warehouse and stage hands who were in line for food with us volunteers. There were also volunteers who were also taking many breaks and snacking. I felt the need to continue until the end of service or until the end of the food supply. Many were still asking if they were still going to get served while we were packing up all the sterno equipment and such. All I know is Mai L. and the rest of the staff has a really tough job getting everything organized and making everything possible to help as many people as possible. I may be complaining and griping but was very happy to help and to do my part. I would definitely like to volunteer again.

Came with my family to help serve lunch on a Friday during the holidays. It was well organized and the staff were very friendly. We helped prep food to be served to the homeless and then lined up behind the counter to help scoop food onto the trays. The people coming in for assistance were from all walks of life, teenagers, old people, middle aged, some homeless, some just looking for a meal, some who had just lost their jobs, some were shy, some were polite, some where just happy to have some food. We helped from 10:30am-1:30p, three hours for lunch. But just that amount of time put things into perspective how much we all want things for Christmas and all they want is a meal. It was so fulfilling to do our part to give back to the community especially during the holiday season when so many are doing without. They also take donations of food, money, and clothing so if you have a bunch of old clothes or things you aren't using, may as well give it to someone who could. Just drive to the underground parking garage, give your items to the attendant, and drive away. Easy peasy.

They're very friendly! They're accepting donations in the parking garage -- it's very convenient.

This place is great Well run and a fantastic experience I highly recommended you volunteer and donate to this deserving organization We serve lunch to about 750 people it was so fulfilling A lifetime spent in service to others, is a life well lived

I came here on Christmas Eve to donate toys and used clothes. Every other local shelter was closed or not accepting any donations when I called. So it was convenient that the Midnight Mission was open 24/7. I like how they have a system to distribute the items. This prevents any chaos or disorganization. They even offer a receipt of proof of your donation, in case you're doing it for a club or organization.

I love the Midnight Mission! I have been volunteering and donating to the Midnight for most of my life. If you are serving dinner, you start out with comprehensive tour, help out in the kitchen and then "work the line." I promise that you will help serve 100s of meals. It is also a great place to donate, whether in cash or in kind, because you know that it will go to the right place.

Great location to donate! It's very simple and easy to do! I believe they are open 24 hours. And the best part is that you can see they are using their stuff to the area in need.

This is a great resourceful place for the homeless people and people with addictions. I have became a regular volunteer and I have some how talked my mom into being my partner on Saturday mornings as well. They have 100's of people sleeping downtown and this mission seems to allows them to sleep in a section which look like a large porch area. The Mission gets their assistance from donations but always in need of more and variety of donations. The people who work here are so very nice and don't mind showing what they need help with. The gentleman by the name of EJ seems to in chargeof the morning shift on Saturday. He is passionate about what he does. And I noticed and heard his team enjoy coming and working with him because of his personality and the love for people. This is a fulfilling and worthwhile feeling for me and my mom.

Some of the bad reviews on this place are ridiculous! Why are you focusing on the service you're being given for donating clothes and goods? All that should matter is that you're helping people, period. Anyways, I've had nothing but a great experience here. The guy at the parking lots is always so helpful and tentative in taking my donated and placing them in bins. He also offers a receipt if you want for tax purposes.

A great place to volunteer. The staff are friendly and I enjoy dedicating my time and seeing all the people that appreciate me being there. I intend to bring more volunteers every time I make a visit.

These people are doing the lords work! It's a great place to volunteer and give back when you can. Simple to sign up. As far as amenities...if you have no money and don't want to sleep on the train or one of the 110 freeway underpasses (like Anthony Kedis) take a trip down to the absolute end of the line. Good old Skid Row. The midnight mission has large rooms, unfortunately no tv's but the mentally ill will keep you entertained or horrified depending on your view of life. Plenty of liquor stores in case the bed bugs get the itchin or you need to kill some hep A in your gut. No Starbucks but if you need your morning jolt there a plenty of low quality cavi peddlers just steps away. Also if you need a fix you can pay top dollar for the most bottom quality tar in Los Angeles. Again just steps away. Look it's hell over there here there's good people thou and if you really want help it's here

The Midnight Mission is an absolutely incredible place! I volunteered here once and already can't wait to go back. The volunteer coordinator who helped me is Darrell Baptist and he has a truly inspiring story that's a testament to how wonderful this place is. Highly recommend going to volunteer there and learning about everything they offer to homeless people in helping them become self sufficient! Really love what they're all about!

This shelters website claims a lot of things that are not true. but it does give a very uncomfortable place to sleep at night and feed people. It really is no different or better despite all the reviews claiming it is.

I was looking forward to a job here. I called and inquired about a job here and Heather the HR person was rude and not at all helpful. I would not want to work here.

I FINALLY got my husband to go into his closet and sort out all the jackets and sweatshirts accumulated over the years. Some of them have never been worn! He's one who loves to buy on sale, but yet sticks to wearing his old favorites. So, there was quite a bit that could be used by others who need the warm clothing more than him. Taking them down to the Midnight Mission was very easy. You push the buzzer to the underground parking lot on San Pedro St. and the friendly guy lets you in. He then helps you unload right there at the bottom of the ramp and you're done! Receipts are available on request. We're thinking this is better than our usual donating to Goodwill or Salvation Army because the items go directly to the people who could use them.

My friend mentioned that he likes to volunteer at the Midnight Mission, because they don't just slap a bandaid on homelessness by providing free meals, but instead also offer a "bridge to self-sufficiency for the homeless" - they provide counseling, education, job training and job placement. For example, a homeless person can get an address and a phone number here which they can use on job applications. It's one of those little things we take for granted and never think about, but it totally makes sense - how can you apply for a job when you have no mailing address or cell phone number? Anyways, Midnight Mission is extremely well-run and well-organized (and makes donating goods easy as well), and they serve breakfast lunch and dinner every day of the week. They need volunteers to help with food prep and serving it in the dining hall. I had the day (mostly) off work for Memorial Day, so I decided to join them for the breakfast shift from 6-8 AM. You're supposed to bring a friend for liability reasons, but I couldn't convince anyone to wake up at 5 with me so I decided to chance it and just show up and hope they'd let me volunteer. I got there and checked in with security and nothing was said about my party of one. Everyone working in the dining hall this morning was a regular volunteer or employee, and they welcomed me with open arms. I was put on oatmeal duty on the assembly line. And off we went. Hungry people filed in, there was a rush of activity, and some time later my right bicep was extremely sore but we had just served 843 people a balanced and hot breakfast. The Midnight Mission is doing great things. Please do consider signing up to help out next time you have a few hours to spare.

The Midnight Mission is really doing amazing things for the homeless community. I came here on a Saturday morning to volunteer for the breakfast service with a friend. I'm a female so they require you to bring a friend, otherwise I'd come more often by myself. It can be difficult to convince people to wake up at 5am on a Saturday. We served breakfast in the food line and then cleaned the tables and even cut fish for the next meal service. The guys who worked here were really friendly and you could tell they were serious about doing their jobs well. Everything was very organized and I felt very safe there. I hope to be back and be a part of the good things going on here.

Every now and then you see something that just makes you stop and think. It makes you smile and be grateful for where you are in life. In between my running back and forth just generally helping out wherever I could over the Easter Sunday dinner I looked up - there was a line outside the area all the way around the block of people waiting to get in -- waiting to get food. This astounded me as food is something I sometimes take for granted - hell this is a site where we review food and we don't think about just how lucky that is that we can do that. As I was serving food to people who were so hungry they would take the plate I gave them and dump it under the table into a bag and claim they hadn't gotten a plate yet made me be thankful I could go home to my full fridge and pick whatever I wanted. Or I could stop by any restaurant and pick something up. (And then review it here of course) I learned as I sat wrapping napkins and silverware that not only does Midnight mission put out these dinners every holiday for the overwhelming amount of homeless but they also provide a facility to help those get back on their feet. I was very lucky to sit next to a woman who's story sounded like she had been through some very harsh times and now here she was, helping out those less fortunate. It was inspiring. The whole day was inspiring. It makes you want to do more, makes you wish you had a billion dollars so you could give every person who was standing in line a bag full of food and a place to sleep. The event itself could've been better organized, I think the tables should've been watched a little better - I completely understand the survival instinct of dumping the food into your bag for later but I was sad when we ran out of food right at 2 o'clock and some people hadn't had a meal yet. I was so happy to see fellow Yelpers there helping out the community and I will definitely be back to help Mai L on subsequent holidays.

My husband and I had such an amazing time volunteering at The Midnight Mission in downtown Los Angeles. We signed up for lunch service on a Saturday. This place is like a well- oiled machine. When we arrived we were given the task of wrapping silverware in napkins. When we were finished, it was time for lunch service. Each volunteer was assigned a work station. My husband and I were in charge of placing water and silverware on each tray. Hundreds of people stood in line for their lunch and it was such a delight to serve these people. They are truly thankful for what this mission is able to provide for them. On weekends, they have an ample amount of free parking spaces in their underground parking structure. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and can't wait to volunteer again in the near future! If you are not a fan of working with or around food, they have other volunteer opportunities available as well. I highly suggest checking out their website and signing up for something!

Such an AMAZING experience volunteering with our family. Parking was very easy. Underground and secure. The tour before our volunteer shift was greatly appreciated and gave our kiddos a deeper understanding. We had the BEST time serving food and hopefully putting a smile on a few faces. Our kiddos had a great time and asked to go back ASAP. Must do!!!

In the middle of poverty, pessimism, and rancid streets are thousands of humans trying to live. Some are there by choice, some are there involuntarily, some are rehabilitating, and others are just trying to remain sane. The best part of skid row is Midnight Mission. I often question Goodwill and the Salvation army, because after all, nobody knows if the actual money we donate goes DIRECTLY to people in need, or just goes to buy employee lunches. The midnight mission donation drop-off is as easy as driving into a garage and getting a receipt. I spoke with a man named Marvial Bell, who disclosed that he lived in skid row and has been 6 months sober. Everyday is a challenge and a blessing for him. I knew then that the expensive designer clothing I dropped off would be more appreciated by the people on the street rather than collecting dust on a clothing rack. The mission has been around for a long time, they participate in tons of community events, and the hours they put in are extensive. People here know what its like to truly suffer and to truly give. God Bless!!!

The best of it's kind! Midnight Mission is a pick yourself back up and get on with your life institution, they are not there just to feed you and make you go away, they have doctors,dentist,computers help for GED etc etc this is exactly where more people should be donating money towards. I donate clothes and encourage everyone to do so because unlike many places they don't resell, they just provide it and distribute it directly to who needs it. Great service to our community, i have served food and still contribute clothing.

We've all heard of Skid Row, and many of us have seen the phenomenal movie "The Soloist" - which was based on a guest of the Midnight Mission. But few of us want to put ourselves in the position to actually VISIT this place - and yet I finally did. And not because this was particularly high on my "to do" list with my free time, but because of my incredible impression of how well run the place is after meeting the Development Director, Rik Krulish. I met Rik at a charity fundraiser and was blown away at his passion, dedication and most of all, his upbeat nature! I've worked for years in nonprofit organizations dealing with homelessness, and to endure as an effective employee while keeping your spirits up is incredibly difficult. But Rik's enthusiasm for the Midnight Mission was so palpable that before I knew it I found myself on Skid Row to check it all out. I'm so happy I did - what I saw was an incredibly well run establishment, and was not nearly as frightening of a experience as I'd imagined. In fact, I felt very safe there and encourage people to take a guided tour of the facilities. I learned a tremendous amount, most importantly how well run this organization is. If you care about the community you live in, do yourself a favor and take the bold steps to tour the Midnight Mission. I'm so glad I did.

The Midnight Mission in downtown (centered in Skid Row) is a housing facility that offers: food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, and medical care. I've volunteered in the kitchen twice now with some fellow co-workers and both experiences have been great. When you first see it, you'll probably miss it because it looks so out of place. It's really clean and looks like it has been rebuilt fairly recently. There's a parking structure that's gated with a guard so you don't have to worry about parking in the street (it is skid row, after all). When you get inside, you talk to the guard at the window and tell him you're there to volunteer. (You'll have to set it up ahead of time through their website: http://www.midnightmission.org) They make you sign a liability form and then proceed to explain to you what you're going to do. When you get to the kitchen area, they give you a plastic apron, some gloves, and one of those 'lunch lady' caps. There is always someone there who is in charge and will tell you what you're going to be serving. The guys who work in the kitchen live in the facility as part of their rehabilitation. Some will tell you stories that will give you the chills, and some are just hilarious. They really make you feel comfortable and make your experience very memorable. You almost don't want to leave. Everything is clean and organized (and I mean clean!). When you finally get to serve people, all I can say is, it is a very humbling experience. You see people that are all different races, backgrounds, genders, ages.. it's really all across the board. Helping these people, even if it's just by putting some hot food on a plate for them, can make a difference in their lives. If you're ever thinking about serving in a food kitchen, I highly recommend this place.