FOX NEWS recognizes Drive-By Do-Gooders’ tireless efforts in Skid Row
National Spectrum TV Recognizes DBDG as Local Heroes During the Pandemic
LOS ANGELES — Every Sunday morning Lycia Naff makes her commute along Interstate-10, heading towards downtown Los Angeles.
Before Lycia gets in her car, she loads it with basic human necessities, which she will then pass out of her car window to the homeless on Skid Row.
What You Need To Know
* Every Sunday, Lycia Naff coordinates drive-by donations on Skid Row
* While she has been making the trip since 2013, she started her own non-profit, Drive-By Do-Gooders.org in 2015
* The non-profit delivers basic human essentials like water, wipes, snacks, and socks to the homeless
* To get involved, visit drivebydogooders.org
She’s driven by a selfless compassion, but it’s something she considers an obligation.
“I’m such a normally selfish individual, that to give that direct grass roots hand-to-hand giving, you know, it’s a win-win," said Lycia. "I get that little helper’s high."
That helper’s high is what keeps her coming back to a place that feels like it’s lost hope.
“So many people are one or two pay checks from what we’re about to see," said Lycia.While she’s been making this trip since 2013, she kicked it up a gear in 2016 when she founded her own non-profit Drive-By Do Gooders.
Lycia collects donations, and 100% of those go towards purchasing the essentials she delivers every Sunday.
Now, she’s no longer driving alone — volunteers have joined her Sunday morning trips.“She’s remarkable, she’s a saint, she’s an angel,” said Ken Freundlich who volunteers with Lycia.
And although most the homeless on Skid Row don’t know her by name, they know what she stands for — hope.“I like to be getting things from her. I’m grateful for her, okay. I love her,” said Maria, who has been a recipient of Lycia’s generosity for years.
Once the supplies in her car are depleted, it’s time to head home, and as she does, her helper’s high is undeniable.“Euphoric exhaustion!” Lycia said.
Exhausted yes, but also relentless, Lycia Naff will be back on Skid Row again next Sunday, and the Sunday after that.For more information on how to donate and help, visit drivebydogooders.org.
ABC gives praise to DBDG
ABC7 News Feb. 1, 2021
This nonprofit drives by help to people experiencing homelessness —The pandemic has made it difficult for nonprofits to help those in need. But the Drive-By Do-Gooders haven't slowed down. By Sophie Flay
SKID ROW (KABC) -- Lycia Naff has been visiting Skid Row every week since 2013.
"Drive-By Do-Gooders is a small nonprofit. We drive my SUV out to the outskirts of Skid Row where there's more elderly and disabled. And from my car window, just like an ice cream truck, we give out basic human essentials," said Naff.
She started out on her own, just giving what she was able to afford.
These days, she usually has the help of a few volunteers. Which happens to be a couple of teenage boys from the neighborhood.
"My volunteers are our kids who go to Venice High when they normally would be sleeping in or certainly skateboarding or surfing. These kids come out with me week after week, year after year," said Naff
Naff says she started giving back simply because it felt like the right thing to do.
"We've got people who look like our brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and parents who are dirt poor right here in Los Angeles. So, it feels like a very natural thing to kind of give back," said Naff.
But it's more personal than that for Naff. She helped her brother overcome homelessness about 6 years ago.
"My brother, who kind of fell into some drug addiction, was renting a little space in my house and it got pretty bad. And he started to hang out in Venice Beach more and more and more, and pretty much ended up living out there," she said.
Yet, she never gave up. And one day, he finally let her help.
"He started to recover very, very quickly. Before you know it, he had gotten into a 12-step program 100% clean and sober. And today, he's got six and a half years of complete sobriety," said Naff.
Naff says she can only do so much. And Drive-By Do-Gooders isn't able to help everyone transition out of homelessness.
But what she can do is hand out water, body wipes, and string cheese.
"It's hydration and hygiene to the heart of the homeless and we don't have any agenda. It's just pure giving," said Naff
The Santa Monica Star acknowledges DBDG’s Rotary Club Awards
By Diane Margolin
L.A. Rotary Clubs hand a check for a grant to Lycia Naff of the Drive-By Do-Gooders organization. Lycia Naff was concerned about the homeless people she used to see sitting along the streets with their pets as she drove to work. In 2013, she packaged up some basic human essentials and survival supplies and began dropping them off from her car window to the people on the streets. She paid for the supplies with her own money. Lycia had no agenda, it was just pure giving. (She had some homeless relatives and these people reminded her of them.) Eventually her friends began contributing to her cause. She was encouraged to take the steps to become a non-profit organization, which she did in 2015. Their official name is Drive-By Do-Gooders. This way she was able to reach out to middle and high schools to get students who needed to do community service to help with packaging and distribution. They now distribute about 150 packages a week 50 weeks of the year. The packages she and her students give out include water, wipes, socks, dental and feminine hygiene products, protein bars, masks, and supplies for their pets such as dog food, collars, medicine, and leashes. The appreciative smiles and positive responses from the homeless people have made an impression on the teenagers who are able to look at their recipients in a different way than they might have before they became part of this grassroots organization.
For more information, email Lycia@drivebydogooders.org, or go to their website at www.Drive ByDoGooders.org