Neighbors, lovers and friends can spend an afternoon creating connections and helping their North Long Beach community at Norfside LB Outreach’s upcoming third space event.
Following a successful Norf Pole event in December 2024, where the mutual aid group was able to raise over $500 and accept plenty of much needed supplies for Long Beach’s unhoused neighbors, the group decided to run it back for a love-themed gathering.
“Last time was so successful we finally had to get a storage unit to hold everything,” said Carlos Omar, one of the founding members of Norfside LB Outreach. He acknowledged that it’s “a bit of a gamble” to be hosting another event so soon, but they’re hoping it allows them to get to a place of stability with funds and resources, especially for when homeless residents have specific requests the team has to purchase.
Along with the donations, Omar said the group has grown in size since the last event. While it used to be a small team that conducted Norfside’s monthly homeless supply distributions, this group now has consistent members each month.
Norfside said they plan to grow this year, both in outreach and in the types of events they host to “expand the scope” of how they’re able to help the community. Love on the Norfside will donate half of its proceeds to people affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires. The group is still vetting organizations and will announce where their donations will go on social media and at the event.
Like with all of their events so far, Norfside is asking attendees to bring items for the local unhoused community.
Requested items include:
- Raincoats
- Sweaters
- Tarps
- Umbrellas
- Bags or backpacks that are weather-resistant
- Hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and wipes
- Menstrual products
- Pet food for cats, dogs and chickens
- New, unused undergarments
- Uncooked rice and beans
Norfside noted they have been receiving more requests for men’s clothing such as sweaters, T-shirts, pants and shoes. People who are unable to attend Norfside’s Sunday morning monthly distributions can also help by making burritos to pass out the night before.
Attendees will be able to enjoy a large space dedicated to creating free art, with supplies such as stickers, cardstock, writing and drawing tools and more crafting supplies. Local photo studio Saturation Room will invite people to make their own Valentine’s Day cards by taking a polaroid photo with their Y2K colorful backdrops and then creating a heartfelt card to go along with it at the craft station.
A wide variety of vendors will be at Love on the Norfside, offering healthy cultural foods, original prints, secondhand fashion, greeting cards, buttons, ceramic items, fresh breads, crochet items, plants, books, jewelry, stickers and more. Artists and vendors are coming from as far as the Inland Empire, but many have strong connections or were born and raised in Long Beach.
Stephanie Gonzalez, a North Long Beach native, is returning to the community event after enjoying herself at the December event. She said the “inviting” and “friendly” environment made her want to come back, as well as the care she felt at the last event. As a multimedia artist known as Stephanovaart, she has been creating for over 10 years and does pieces for local nonprofit Puente LBC.
Gonzalez had heard about Norfside LB Outreach’s work prior to vending with them, and was pleasantly surprised at “the vibes” at the event and how many young people came out to support the unhoused community.
“It was refreshing to see young adults doing something positive for their community,” Gonzalez said. “You can tell they really care about bringing everyone together and raising donations for the houseless.”
Gonzalez will be selling stickers, prints, tote bags, bucket hats and more.
The full list of vendors and artists that will be at Love on the Norfside include:
- Saturation Room – photobooth and polaroids
- Antdawg – DJ
- Amorcitos Articito – greeting cards, buttons, prints and more
- Amas Creations – handmade ceramics and baked goods
- PL Creations – crochet plushies
- Jillie Varona – fresh bread, butters, jams, herbal honey and tea blends
- Stephanovaart – stickers, tote bags, prints, hats and more
- Binx Boutique – vintage/secondhand clothing
- Libros Raices – books and plants
- Cinditas Tiendita – earrings, cards, prints and zines
- Cyber Bimbo xoxo – clothing, tote bags and prints
- Mama Patron – tamales and pozole
Norfside emphasized that people who have nothing to spend or donate are still welcome at the event, as they continue trying to make a third space for young adults. The group is always accepting new members who want to make a difference in their community, where everyone’s voice is welcome to offer ideas and support.
“Nothing has to be the way it is. You can do something, even if it’s something small you can change something and you can make friends along the way,” Omar said. “This is a way of modeling that for people.”
Love on the Norfside will take place Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Black Ring Coffee Roasters (5373 Long Beach Blvd.). Entry is free.
