Boy Scout Troop 683 Comes to ‘Hands’ Aid

Early deadlines by the GVN last week kept the newspaper from receiving all donations for publication.

One donation we are posting for the week is $1,070.85 by the Boy Scout Troop No. 683. The Scouts also donated more than 880 pounds of food to the Helping Hands holiday drive for the needy.

The unofficial total for the season is $8,945.85.

“Helping Hands allows individuals and families who experience financial hardships to access food vouchers and toys for the holiday season,” a city official said. “The holiday food and toy drive brings the gift of giving and unity — along with a bundle of holiday gifts — to families in Gardena.”

Since 1981, Helping Hands has brightened the holidays for any families in Gardena.

Groups and individuals can assist with food, new unwrapped toys or monetary donations by dropping them off or mailing them to the Human Services Division.

“Become a holiday hero and contribute to Helping Hands now through December, with new unwrapped toys or monetary donations.”

Checks should be made to “Helping Hands” and can be sent to or dropped off at:

City of Gardena

Human Services Division

c/o Helping Hands

1651 W. 162nd St., Gardena, CA 90247

_____________

City Hall

1700 W. 162^nd St., Gardena, CA 90247

__________

Nakaoka Community Center

1670 W. 162^nd St., Gardena, CA 90247

For a great cause

Now in its 38th year, Gardena’s holiday food drive will benefit more than 400 needy families in the community and will serve more than 1,700 people with grocery vouchers and gifts for the kids.

Sponsored by the city of Gardena in cooperation with the Gardena Valley News, the holiday food drive began in 1981 as a food basket giveaway to Gardena’s less fortunate.

In recent years, food vouchers to area grocery stores have replaced food baskets, which provides families with a greater selection of food items, including dietary and ethnic items.

Last year, Helping Hands received palettes of canned foods from various groups for the holiday.

The city of Gardena provides all staffing in the Hands drive and all monetary contributions go toward the holiday fund-raiser and the year-round food pantry. No money is used for administrative costs.

As in the past, the Gardena Valley News will publish a list of contributors, with a weekly update of new donors. For more information about Helping Hands, call 310-217-9574.

Contact

To learn more about the event, please contact:

Human Services Division

1651 West 162nd St.,

Gardena, CA 90247

Phone: 310-217-9574

E-mail: helpinghands@cityofgardena.org

Season’s Total (Unofficial)             $8,945.85

WEEKLY DONATIONS

Dec. 19

Boy Scout Troop No. 683      $1,075.85

Dec. 12

Elks Lodge 1919          $4,000 in Ralphs/ Food 4 Less Gift Cards

Tommy Murakoshi       $200

Denny Ward                 $200 (and 46 toys)

Anonymous         $100

Gardena Valley Friends of the Library     $100

Anonymous         $100

Hisahi Nakada    $25

Monthly Total      $4,625

Dec. 5

First Southern Baptist Church        $500

Italian Catholic Federation–St. Anthony of Padua Branch No. 237       $500

Dolores Doll-Sales       $100

Doreen Wananbe         $100

Harold T. Kobata $50

Total          $1,250 

Nov. 28

June Eicker         $150

Evelyn B. Nall, In Memory of Norma Nall $150

Gardena Valley Affiliated Committee on Aging $100

LaVerne Knight   $100

Total          $500

Nov. 21

Community of Christ             $1,000

Anonymous         $300

Brain and Joyce Gohata “In Memory of Tom and Jan Gohata”    $200

Total          $1,500

Toys  

Kushigemachi Family

Food

Multiple Food-Drive Donations

1. Harbor Distribution Co. 1,281 lbs. 15oz.
2. 156^thStreet Elementary School and GPD Officer Luis Villanueva      959 lbs. 2oz
3. Impresa Aerospace  193 lbs 4oz.
4. Boy Scout Troop 683 883 lbs 3oz.
5. St. Anthony of Padua 136 lbs. 5oz.
6. Ducommon Aerostructures 139 lbs 7oz
7. Gardena Youth Commission 58 lbs 7oz
8. 2023 Royal Blue Amigos Unidos Picture donated 253 lbs, 11oz
9. Gardena Buddhist Church- Pack 1230 donated 301 lbs, 8oz.