Charity
organizations serve less fortunate
By Ruth Estrada
On-line Forty-Niner
Christmas
is just around the corner and many charity
organizations in our local community are
preparing for our nations busiest holiday.
The Salvation Army is one of the many local
organizations that will be helping out with
this year’s holiday season.
William Booth founded the Salvation Army
in 1865. It is an international organization
that operates in 107 countries around the
globe and expects to assist more than 6
million people during the holiday season.
Last year donations made to the Salvation
Army’s red kettles totaled more than $84
million.
Ere Moreno, an employee at the Salvation
Army in Long Beach, said that they are working
with the local elementary schools, secondary
schools and high schools by collecting canned
goods for those in need.
Moreno also said that the Salvation Army
in Long Beach is also collaborating with
the Press-Telegram on their “Holiday Dreams
Program.” The program allows less fortunate
families to explain their situations, and
it also allows them to tell people what
they need.
“The program helps families to get their
story out,” Moreno said. “People can then
donate to these families through us.”
The Salvation in Army will also be serving
dinner on Christmas Day at Mums restaurant
in Long Beach from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meals
will also be served at the Reef restaurant
in Long Beach from 8 to 11 a.m. Moreno
said that the dinner is free of charge,
but reservations must be made in advance.
The Long Beach Rescue Mission is another
organization that will be helping out with
this year’s holiday season. Cindy Thomas,
director of the Long Beach Rescue Mission
also said they will be serving dinner on
Christmas Eve.
“We will be serving turkey, ham and all
the trimmings that come with it,” Thomas
said. “We will be open for everyone to enjoy.”
Thomas also said that the mission will be
giving out more than 2,000 plus stockings
that have been donated by various clubs,
individuals and businesses.
In fact, Thomas said that last year the
Chancellor’s Office was one of the many
groups that donated gifts to the mission.
“They donated alot of toys, including bicycles
and scooters,” Thomas said. “One mother
just sobbed and cried because she was so
thankful.”
Food Finders in Long Beach is another organization
that will be helping out those in need for
this year’s holiday season. Arlene Mercer,
founder and executive director of Food Finders
said that they are working closely with
a number of different organizations.
Food Finders is a non profit organization
and Mercer said they are the link between
donors, service agencies and people in need.
Mercers also said that they encourage people
to donate food, which will be turned around
and delivered free of cost to the different
agencies.
“This year Toyota of Torrance is adopting
five families,” Mercer said. “Toyota gets
the names, ages and sex of the individuals
and asks each person three presents of things
that they would like. It is so overwhelming,
because they give so much.”
Mercer also said that the Highway Patrol
has already donated 360 toys and Toys for
Tots has donated 122 toys for families who
cannot afford gifts for their children.
Other business and groups are helping out
by organizing canned food drives.
|
