Fulton, Chapman to lead center

The Laguna Relief and Resource Center has new leadership.

Faye Chapman has been named chairwoman, and Jane Fulton has been appointed as vice chairwoman of the center’s board of directors. Fulton also serves as legal counsel to the board.

Both are experienced advocates for the homeless and underserved and also serve as members of the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee, according to a news release from the Resource Center.

Chapman spearheaded Laguna Beach’s inaugural Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week observances in November, which benefited the Resource Center. A photographer, Chapman’s portraits of homeless individuals are collected in the book “Faces of the Shadows, Life on the Street,” from which a portion of proceeds go to the Resource Center.

“I want to use my new position to help create positive changes to the Resource Center,” Chapman said.

Chapman said her first priority for 2010 is to expand the Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week, scheduled for Nov. 1 to 7. A new event has been added to the already packed schedule of events for the week. The Hunger Bowl fundraiser will be at the Neighborhood Congregational Church on Nov. 5 and will feature handmade bowls that can be filled with the tasty offerings from local restaurants, such as Mark’s, K’ya, Stalker Fine Foods, Hush and Sundried Tomato Café, which have committed to the event.

In the 1960s, while Fulton was earning her law degree, she was a social worker and director of community planning and education for the Sacramento Red Cross. Fulton’s long legal career includes pro-bono work for the Los Angeles Free Clinic, the Laguna Beach Free Clinic, Amnesty International and the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

“I’ve always been involved with community service,” she said. “It’s my first love. The homeless are to be respected like everyone else. We all have the same constitutional rights.”

The Laguna Relief and Resource Center provides various services to the homeless and needy population. It is at 3305 Laguna Canyon Road. The center is open from 7:30 a.m. to noon weekdays and provides a place for homeless people to shower and eat a home-cooked meal as well as other services.

The center also operates a food bank for low-income Laguna Beach families as well being a resource for victims of natural disasters.

Volunteers are always needed. For more information, call (949) 497-7121.