Helping Hands for the needy needs additional $600
As this season’s Helping Hands program bid farewell to 2016, program coordinator Evette Wedlow-Benjamin accepted the last few donations. She said this year, “we came within $593.41 of reaching our goal of $22,500.”
Helping Hands for the needy needs additional $600
As this season’s Helping Hands program bid farewell to 2016, program coordinator Evette Wedlow-Benjamin accepted the last few donations. She said this year, “we came within $593.41 of reaching our goal of $22,500.”
South Bay FOR (Friends of Richard) Jr. Sports Association stepped up and made a significant $1,247 gift. The Gardena Municipal Employee Association donated $1,000, and The Italian Federation St. Anthony Padua Branch No. 237 added $500. Louise Sakamoto gave generously with $75 check. The season total stands at $21,906.59.
There is still time to erase the deficit, Benjamin noted.
“It is not too late to help us leach our goal,” Benjamin said. “Thank you to everyone that donated, wrapped gifts, passed out toys… your assistance was greatly appreciated.”
(The missing donors from past weeks have been included in this week’s list. All donations from Dec. 5 have been updated this week.)
Benjamin reminds all that even after the Helping Hands program has concluded, all money and food donations go toward stocking the City’s food pantry at the Human Services Department.
You can assist the Helping Hands program and food pantry with a final donation, or food gift.
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.
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
Phone: 310-217-9574
E-mail: ebenjamin@ci.gardena.ca.us
CONTRIBUTORS for 2016 Season
Jan. 9
South Bay FOR Jr. Sports Association $1,247
Gardena Municipal Employee Assoc. $1,000
The Italian Catholic Federation St. Anthony Padua Branch No. 237 $500
Louise Sakamoto $75
Total for Season $21,906.59
Toys
Navigant/Cymetrix 121
Virginia Burgos 50
Rey Benavides 37
The Gonzalez Family 7
Gardena Police Department3
Kyle DeVine 2
Gardena Presbyterian Church 1
Jan. 2
DaySpring Christian Church$200
Lutheran Oriental Church $200
Law offices of Steven I. Awakuni $150
Total for Season $19,084.59
FOOD
Gardena Evening Optimist 10 bags, 1 case
TOYS
Gardena Evening Optimist 52
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
Brenda Jackson and family 19
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
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
Dec. 5
Gasket Manufacturing Company $1,500
Councilman Terrence Terauchi $600
Boy Scout Troop No. 683 $539.59
G. Garnica Trucking $500
Gardena Korean Baptist Church $300
Gary and Flo Motoyama $200
Mr. and Mrs. Denny Ward $200
Anonymous $200
Thornburg Park Karate $150
Anonymous $150
Efren and Dolores Sales $100
In Memory of Alton Knight $100
Kim Nolan $50
Arthur and Denise Chism $10
FOOD
Boy Scout Troop 683 delivered food valued at $1,170
TOYS
Anonymous 170
Mr. and Mrs. Denny Ward 54
Gardena Senior Citizens 25
Nov. 28
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. 21
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 (gift cards)
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 Totalfor Season $2,975
