Gardena Emblem Club No. 257 steps
up with monetary donation, gift cards
As the Helping Hands holiday program comes down to its final days, the Christmas week had most people spending time on and with family.
But one group made the program for needy families cheering.
The Gardena Emblem Club No. 257 made a $200 donation and backed that with $190 in gift cards this past week.
Gardena Emblem Club No. 257 steps
up with monetary donation, gift cards
As the Helping Hands holiday program comes down to its final days, the Christmas week had most people spending time on and with family.
But one group made the program for needy families cheering.
The Gardena Emblem Club No. 257 made a $200 donation and backed that with $190 in gift cards this past week.
Although still about $4,000 shy of her season’s goal of $22,500, Helping Hands coordinator Evette Wedlow-Benjamin remains optimistic that the final week of the program will be a bountiful one.
The El Camino Lions again contributed gift cards, this time for $15.
Cash donations have amounted to $13,014.59 and gift cards, $5,520, Benjamin reported.
Toy donations were more abundant, led by three Anonymous donations of 150, 89 and 75. Nader’s LA Popular Furniture, which has made other donations this season, added 70 toys. The Gardena Police Department followed with 41, while Brenda Jackson and family contributing 19. The EC Lions added 5 toys.
Since 1981, Helping Hands has brought the gift of Gardena’s care and concern – along with a bundle of holiday gifts – to families in Gardena.
You can assist with Helping Hands with food, new unwrapped toys or monetary donations by dropping them off or mailing them.
Benjamin added that money and toy donations can be made at the Human Services Department (see address below), or at the following Gardena locations: Nader’s La Popular Furniture, 2201 Marine Ave., (the corner of Marine and Van Ness Avenue); the U.S. Bank, 1260 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.; Chase Bank at 1735 W. Artesia Blvd.; Burnt Tortilla Mexican Restaurant, 1427 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.; and the Lucky Duck swim school at 2421 W. Marine Ave.
For a great cause
Now in its 35th 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 1980 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.
Checks should be made to “Helping Hands” and can be sent or dropped off at:
City of Gardena
Human Services Department
c/o Helping Hands
1651 W. 162nd St., Gardena, CA 90247
Contact
To learn more about the event, please contact:
City of Gardena Recreation, Human Services, Parks and Facilities Department
Human Services Division
1651 West 162nd St.,
Gardena, CA 90247
Phone: 310-217-9574
E-mail: ebenjamin@ci.gardena.ca.us
CONTRIBUTORS for 2016
Dec. 26
Gardena Emblem Club No. 257 $200
Gift cards
Gardena Emblem Club No. 257 $190
Total for Season $18,534.59
Toys
Anonymous 150
Anonymous 89
Anonymous 75
Nader’s LA Popular Furniture 70
Gardena Police Department41
El Camino Lions 5
Dec. 19
First Bank $424
Gardena Buddhist Church $265
In Memory of Virginia Castillo $100
The Randle Family $100
D. Watanabe $100
Anonymous $100 (gift cards)
Terri Oneta Haase $50
El Camino Lions $30 (gift cards)
Total for Season $18,129.59
TOYS
Gardena Buddhist Church 249
Gardena Sports Advisory Board 165
Harbor Distribution Company 117
First Southern Baptist Church 105
Hustler Casino 87
Virginia Burgos 57
Honda 39
Mobile Mini25
El Camino Lions 23
Gardena Police Department19
Gasket Manufacturing17
First Gardena Presbyterian Church 1
Total Toys for Season 1,729
Dec. 12
Gardena Valley Lions Club $200
Hoodlum Club, Inc. $200
Anonymous $116
Glenn T. Shono $100
Henry Shimabuku $100
Second Time Around Seniors Club $100
Frank and Lidia Onderka $50
K. and O. Ota $50
Gift Cards
Faith United Methodist Church $65
Rent Mediation Board $50
FOOD
Faith United Methodist Church 7 Boxes
Toys
Spark of Love 238
Undesignated 125
Nader’s LA Popular Furniture 36
Nader’s LA Popular Furniture 59
Rent Mediation Board 6
Anonymous 2
FOOD
Harbor Distributing LLC of Gardena dropped off food valued at $1,170 at the Human Services Department.
Nov. 25
Gardena Management Employee Organization $500
In Memory of Norma Nall $200
Donald Dear $100
Hisashi Nakada $25
* FOR Challengers G9 $50 gift card
* Micaela Bryant 5 bags of food and 2 toys
Unofficial total for Season $11,210
Nov. 18
First Southern Baptist Church $400
Sam’s Autoland $200
Returning to the Lord Christian Church DOC $150
Unofficial total for Season $10,335
** Toys: Nader’s LA Popular Furniture, 29 toys
Nov. 14
Gardena Community of Christ $1,000
South Bay Toyota $1,000
Terry and Betty Kennedy $400
Loyce Holt Dravigne $300
Nader’s LA POPULAR Furniture $300
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3261 $250
Anna Garvin Steuwer $150
Tommy and Miyoko Murakoshi $100
Gardena Mission Chapel $50
Anonymous $35
The Haskell Family $25
Unofficial total for Season $9,585
** Toys: Northrup Grumman Softball Club, 79 toys
Nov. 7
1. Gardena Elks Lodge 1919 $4,000
Unofficial Totalfor Season $6,975
Oct. 31
1. Gardena Community of Christ $1,000
2. El Camino Lions Club $800
3. In Memory of Tom and Jan Gohata $200
4. John and Elaine Nichelson $200
5. June M. Eicker $150
6. In Memory of parents, Richard and Cynthia Woods $100
7. Anonymous $100
8. Gardena Valley Affiliated Committee$100
9. Mas Fujita $100
10. Lutheran Oriental Church $100
11. In Memory of Virginia Castilla $75
12. Sofia Pappathedorou $50
Unofficial Total for Season $2,975
