HOLDAY PROGRAM MISSES GOAL

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GENEROSITY—Members of the Italian Catholic Federation of St Anthony Padua Branch No. 237 present a check to the Gardena Helping Hands holiday drive. Connie Bohannon is the club president.

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