Jessica O’Donnell wanted to make helping her neighbors feel easy and enjoyable, so in 2024 she started a small gathering called Party with a Purpose.
Friends chip in $5 for a raffle and spend an evening together. The gathering is low-key, but the idea has grown into a regular way for people to do something useful while having fun.
During the 2025 holiday season, O’Donnell dedicated the party to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank after seeing more local families turn to food assistance. She also used her employer’s matching-gift programme.
Together, the partygoers and the matching gift raised $1,750 to help fight hunger in Los Angeles County. It is a reminder that a small circle of friends can make a real difference when they decide to share what they have.
