Description
Friends of Fairfax (FOF) is a nonprofit organization that works in collaboration with Fairfax High School, an inner-city Los Angeles public school, to find support and resources for the school and its students.
The Fairfax High student body of 2,400 students includes at least 800 English language learners that speak over 30 languages, and 67.7 percent of their enrollment qualifies for California's Free and Reduced Lunch program (Title 1 designation). Fairfax also has the highest special needs program in the school district.
One of the programs organized by FOF since 1997 is the "Melrose Trading Post", antiques and collectibles "flea market" held every Sunday in the parking lot at Fairfax High School. Each week is sponsored by a student club or organization that helps to execute the day's event alongside the regular staff. The students work from 7am to 7pm, and groups that work are eligible to request money for equipment, trips, uniforms, or whatever the school budget does not provide. The event has been a tremendous success and has raised thousands of dollars for Fairfax High, thanks to the 3,000-5,000 people attending every Sunday to support the event. Through volunteering at this event not only are students at Fairfax High inspired to empower themselves, they also learn leadership, teamwork and connect directly to their community. Many volunteer students use this as work experience on their resumes or to earn community service credits. Almost all regular Melrose Trading Post employees initially started as volunteers.
