• Don't let your money possibly be used for drugs or alcohol.

• The best way to help is to contribute to the charity of your choice or to one of the organizations listed below.

• Please call the police if you feel threatened or harassed.

• Walk with confidence - the streets of the City belong to all of us.

Panhandling is not an uncommon occurrence in the USC Community, which encompasses the University Park Campus and the North University Park Area, and it has become a serious problem. Not only does it affect the safety and security of the community, the panhandlers themselves, who are most often transients, visually detract from the neighborhood and are a blemish upon the beauty of the University campus.

Though many people who give money to panhandlers do so of their own volition, they may not realize the adverse effects of their direct donations to the panhandler on society.

The Department of Public Safety is asking you to say 'NO' to the panhandler when approached for spare change. If you feel obligated to help the panhandler, please know that there are alternatives to giving them funds. You can donate your time/money to a local charitable organization that offers them a variety of services including meals and shelter.

Panhandlers do have the constitutional right to ask you for money, but they do not have the right to threaten or harass you. If you are threatened or harassed by a panhandler, please call the Department of Public Safety immediately at 740-6000. Also, contact the Department if you see a panhandler in your building or wandering in an area you know s/he should not be in. Do not be misled. Not all panhandlers look "down and out."

Do not allow USC to continue to be a resource for the panhandlers. If we all make an extra effort to say 'NO' to the panhandlers, together we can decrease, if not eliminate, the problems associated with their constant presence. With your help, we can make the USC Community a safer and more secure environment in which to live and learn.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Department of Public Safety at 740-6000 or Crime Prevention at 743-1730. For emergencies call 740-4321.

The following is a list of charitable organizations where you can donate either your time, money or both to help minimize panhandling in our community.

St. Mark's Lutheran Church (213) 731-2157
St. Mark's Lutheran Church offers a variety of volunteering opportunities for the community to get involved in. The church serves food to needy families, Tuesday and Friday afternoons. We have playground games and tutoring on Tuesday afternoons. We work with teenagers on Friday evenings. There is preschool daily, working with small children. We also accept kind donations. Please contact Pastor Brian Eklund for further information.

Sunshine Mission/Casa de Rosas (213) 747-7419
A non-profit corporation that provides emergency, transitional and affordable housing and services to women in a safe and supportive environment through two programs: The Sunshine Mission provides emergency shelter, meals, clothing, life necessities and supportive services to adult, unaccompanied women for a 30 to 60-day period at no cost to them. The Casa de Rosas Hotel offers a safe, clean, modern rental residence at affordable rates ($290 - $310 per month, utilities and meals included) to adult, unaccompanied women of very low income.

Sunshine Mission/Casa de Rosas appreciates the generous community support it continues to receive and - in addition to financial support - can always use donations of short-term or on-going volunteer hours, used women's clothing in wearable condition, non-perishable food items, used furniture, and more.

USC Student Volunteer Center (213) 740-9116
The USC Student Volunteer Center is a student-run program under the division of Student Affairs that offers exciting opportunities in the public and community service in a variety of areas in the immediate community. The Volunteer Center organizes several public service projects, identifying volunteer opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and houses an extensive database with over 200 entries of service agencies that offer volunteer opportunities to USC students. In addition, the Volunteer Center works with the class "Community Service" offered by the Division of Social Sciences. Although the University sponsored organizations are only available to the faculty, student, and staff of USC, the database is accessible to everyone.

Project Special Friend (213) 934-6007
Project Special Friend is a program that works to give local school children small Christmas shopping sprees in an area toy store. The project is also working towards providing services to area families such as clothing, food and education.

Project Special Friend is looking for volunteers to help with both the organization of fundraising efforts and in other areas of the project's programs. Kind donations will also be accepted. Please call for more information.

L.A. Works (213) 936-1340
L. A. Works is a non-profit organization that makes it possible for people to get involved in their communities by volunteering. All across Los Angeles, projects are set up that address a variety of community needs. Volunteers host parties for children at homeless shelters, prepare meals for needy families, plant trees and refurbish community centers.

There are obviously many opportunities for volunteers through our ongoing monthly projects. However, in order to provide these services, we do need help in many other forms. Volunteers could help with administrative duties in the office, talking to new volunteers, mailing information, etc. We also have several volunteer committees that research new projects, seek out in kind and corporate donations, etc. Hours are flexible.