Denise Richards, Nick Cannon, Jennie Garth Talk the Importance of Giving Back at L.A. Mission's Skid Row Easter Event

Hollywood stars volunteered part of their Easter weekend to help the Los Angeles Mission distribute food on Skid Row.

For the LA Mission’s annual Easter event, the shelter provides hot meals and basic necessities for people in Skid Row. Celebrities in attendance on Friday included Nick Cannon, Denise Richards, Jennie Garth, Corey Feldman, Scheana Shay, Ian Ziering, Josh Peck, Loni Love, Kate Linder, Emily Tosta, Julieth Restrepo, Nora Kirkpatrick, Mayra Veronica and Masiela Lusha.

Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Rep. Maxine Waters and Rep. Jimmy Gomez also showed up to help the LA Mission, which is among the nation’s largest providers of homeless services.

Cannon, 43, told PEOPLE he has been working with the mission for “over a decade.”

“It’s one of those things where it allows you to actually put life into perspective. I mean, we have so much love in my family, and then when you come here, you see the need for so much of that same family love,” he explained. “So to be able to share that, to allow my family to experience that. The mission has brought us so much joy and so much love over the years, so it’s really about paying it forward.”

Brock Davies and Scheana Shay in Mission Los Angeles to serve Easter meals to the Skids Row community.

Rob Latour/Shutterstock

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Ahead of the luncheon, Ziering, 59, shared similar sentiments, telling PEOPLE, “Really, from my perspective, the reason I’m involved in something like this is to show others that a life of service is so rewarding, not just for you but for the people you’re helping to rise.”

“I look at the celebrity I’ve earned as capital and I think this is a good way to spend that capital if I can help raise awareness of what’s possible for people to give of their time to help others who may be less fortunate.” he continued. “First and foremost, I think it’s a good thing to do. It serves my heart and also my children, it’s a teachable moment where I can give them perspective.”

Actually, Beverly Hills, 90210 the actor brought his daughters Mia (12) and Penna (10) to the event.

“I’m bringing you here today to get perspective,” Penni said. “What life can be, maybe appreciate the life you have. And be happy with what you have and show some gratitude.”

Ian Ziering and Emma Caulfield on a mission to Los Angeles to serve Easter meals to the Skids Row community.

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Jennie Garth spends Easter handing out meals on LA’s Skid Row: ‘So full of joy and hope’

Garth, 51, also brought her three daughters, Luca, 26, Lola, 21, and Fiona, 17 — who she shares with ex-husband Peter Facinelli — to the event, which she told PEOPLE was an “honor” back in the LA community .

“The Mission is kind of the cornerstone of Los Angeles and it’s an honor to be a part of helping to provide services,” she said, later adding, “Just walking through the building — it’s so full of joy, hope and people, we’re so happy to be here and celebrate Easter … I mean, it’s so fun and festive there and you just feel warm to be a part of it.”

The actress also noted that it’s important to her to show her children why it’s important to “pay it forward” when it comes to community service.

“Every time I volunteer, I try to bring as many of my kids as possible because they like to give back and we like to do it together,” Garth said. “And I think it’s just a good thing to keep, to keep in mind the importance of giving back and serving. You know, we’re so lucky and it’s very important to me to pay it forward.”

Denise Richards at Mission Los Angeles x Easter Celebration held at Mission Los Angeles on March 29, 2024.

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Richards, 53, spoke to PEOPLE, saying it’s “really wonderful to be able to give back” before emphasizing how serious Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis is.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to be able to help and give back,” she said.

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Pastor Troy Vaughn, president and CEO of LA Mission, gave a sermon before the event. The meal distribution that followed lasted for three hours.

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Source: HIS Education