DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

In the streets in front of the Midnight Mission, social service providers and community enablers set up booths yesterday to introduce themselves to Skid Row’s residents. The scene was part of Project Homeless Connect, an event that began in San Francisco and has been adopted by 100 US cities.

For the second year DLANC was on hand giving away books, up to three per person. The stockpile, including a large donation from Downtown's library branches, was 40 boxes strong at the beginning of the day but was mostly depleted by early afternoon. One of this year's favorite selections: children’s books.

Roberta Johnson, 56, has a daughter back in Texas who had been recovering since losing her home during Hurricane Katrina. “I don’t need anything for myself right now,” said Johnson, who lives in a nearby SRO. “I was just down to listen to some music, and saw it was ok to pick an extra stocking stuffer for my grandchild.” Asked how her daughter was doing, she smiled and said “Oh, don’t have to worry about that child. She is as stubborn as me. She can’t talk me into living in any kind of hot weather like they have in Texas.”

Above, left, two visitors to DLANC's book giveaway look through the remaining boxes. Right, a stage on San Julian street hosted entertainment throughout the event. Photos by Eric Richardson and Ed Fuentes.