During July when our crew was busy deep-cleaning our pantry, walk-in fridge and freezer and kitchen, we had three groups sponsor catered lunches in July on the three Sundays that the drop-in center was open. Thank you to – Saturday Women’s breakfast group(7/12), Leadership Long Beach and Long Beach Community Foundation (7/19) and El Pollo Loco Charities (7/26) for providing lunches for our guests. Gratitude to Helene, Bonnie, Jill, Staci, Roland and the staff at Apple Spice Junction, Kress Market and El Pollo Loco for their help in making our July lunches special.
Thank you to Clayton for donating sanitized hand wipes and face masks that we gave to our guests prior to their meals.
Our DAYS Long Beach/UCO grocery team gave Smart and Final gift cards to the families and individuals who regularly relied on our weekly grocery offerings. A mother of two young girls said to me last week that their cupboards and fridge were nearly empty and the gift card “saved us.”
On July 18th, a friend’s son who helped at an event in Carson that was co-hosted by LA Regional Food Bank provided an impromptu good deed. After they closed the food bank, the young man filled up his car with some of the remaining groceries, called me asking where he should go, and went to a large apartment building near the Congregational Church. We have several families in that building who regularly visit our center on Sundays. They were so happy to receive the surprise deliveries of rescued produce and other groceries.
Staff and I are busy during the week helping our clients connect with services, shelter, and permanent housing. In July, our funds were used to pay for rent, utilities and DMV fees. The gentleman who needed help with his car registration is currently sleeping in his car. We helped a senior gentleman secure a room in the Project Roomkey shelter.
A family of four who had been in various states of homelessness for years recently moved into their apartment. A man we helped move into an SRO in February was very thrilled when he moved to a one-bedroom unit last week.
We are helping both these parties secure furniture, housewares and other supplies. Thank you to George and Steve of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for donating furniture and other items from their brother’s apartment.
We recently received facemasks, gloves, infrared thermometers, toothpaste, and toothbrushes from the United Way – thank you to Lisa, Kevin and Brennan for helping us with pick up of this large donation. We shared our bounty with DAYS Long Beach, St Lukes Episcopal Church, COA, LB Community Table and Mental Health America.
Last week, we received another grant from the Long Beach Disaster Relief Fund, managed by the Long Beach Community Foundation, designated to pay partial rents for individuals and families who have been impacted by Covid-19. With our prior LBDRF grants and own funds, we have written 65 partial rent assistance checks since April 2020.
For this week’s food drive, we are asking for your help in collecting sliced sandwich bread, turkey sandwich meat, spam, other meats in pop-up cans, envelopes of tuna, small peanut butters, pasta, rice and bottled water. As before, donations may be dropped off at the 2nd alley door on Saturday, 10 am to 11 am. Safe distancing will be enforced.
We are grateful for your support.