As the December holiday season quickly approaches, we are reminded of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. More than 2,360 individuals living in Gardena, many of them children and seniors will not be able to enjoy the holidays without the food, gifts and toys that many of us take for granted.
As the December holiday season quickly approaches, we are reminded of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. More than 2,360 individuals living in Gardena, many of them children and seniors will not be able to enjoy the holidays without the food, gifts and toys that many of us take for granted.
Helping Hands, which is a combined effort of the Elks Lodge 1919, Lions and many other service groups and churches in the City of Gardena, is now entering its 33rd year of community service, will make the holidays a bit more comfortable for those who are low income or unemployed.
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 to:
City of Gardena
Human Services Division
c/o Helping Hands
1651 W. 162nd Street, Gardena 90247
For more information, contact the Human Services Division at 310-217-9574.
Gardena Elks Lodge leads the way
The Gardena Elks Lodge No. 1919 kicked off the 2014 food drive with a $4,000 donation.
The fraternal organization opened the 2014 Gardena Helping Hands holiday food drive for the needy with an impressive $4,000 check. The gift comes weeks early this year from the typical late October-early November kickoff.
Exalted Ruler Alyssa Santos of BPOE 1919 made the check presentation recently to the Helping Hands coordinator, Evette Wedlow-Benjamin, at the Human Services Department. In attendance at the Elks Lodge for the presentation were Elks members and Benjamin from the city of Gardena Human Services.
The Elks donation to the holiday Helping Hands drive was generated primarily by its very successful bingo program. The money will go toward grocery food vouchers.
With the first week under its belt, the Helping Hands holiday drive for the needy will have a lofty goal to pursue.
For a great cause
Now in its 33rd 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 310-217-9594.
Week 2 donations, ending Monday, Oct. 20
Gardena Elks Lodge 1919 $4,000
Total $4,000
