2 Holiday Stores Open to Benefit Homeless, Help Animals

Two temporary stores, one to benefit homeless residents of skid row and the other offering a share of its profits to prevent cruelty to animals, have opened for the holiday season at Seventh Market Place in CitiCorp Plaza in downtown Los Angeles.

Skid Row Access, a nonprofit organization that sells crafts made by residents of skid row, is on the bottom floor of the shopping complex at Figueroa and 7th streets. Among the most popular items, according to store worker Arlinda Thomas, are a variety of wood carvings. Designers receive two-thirds of the proceeds.

The other store is Reading’s Fun, which, like Skid Row Access, is being allowed to use the space rent-free courtesy of CitiCorp. Located on the second floor, Reading’s Fun is offering a limited selection of hardback books at up to 50% off the retail price, with 5% of each sale going to the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Both stores will be open until Dec. 24.