San Fernando Valley residents, organizations receive assistance from LA County’s Care For Humanity
By RONNIE H. MUTYA
Date Posted: November 24, 2023
The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) in the Ecclesiastical District of Los Angeles County, California, in partnership with the Felix Y. Manalo (FYM) Foundation, conducted its outreach program, Care For Humanity, at the San Fernando High School Auditorium along 11133 O’Melveny Avenue, San Fernando, California, USA on October 21, 2023.
The brethren handed over a total of 500 care packages filled with essential food items to residents of a community in the San Fernando Valley.
The outreach activity began with a video presentation to introduce the Iglesia Ni Cristo as well as the FYM Foundation and the Care For Humanity project.
“It’s just a beautiful thing to be able to see this organization help individuals in need not just in our small community but also in many communities. It’s absolutely moving, heartwarming, and commendable,” said Sandra Rodriguez, operations manager of The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Fernando Valley, upon watching the said video.
As a long line of attendees formed to avail of the free lunch meals, there were musical performances that entertained everyone as well as a food truck located to the side of the auditorium.
Moreover, five local organizations serving the “underserved” population in the San Fernando Valley—Hands 4 Hope LA, NAMI San Fernando Valley, Pacoima Beautiful, San Fernando High School, and LAPD Devonshire PALS—were given financial donation by the Church.
The said organizations respectively received a $2,000 check donation, for which they were thankful for. “It’s going to continue to help us provide the free programs and services that we have today and hopefully, create even more programs,” Rodriguez added.
Nancy Hofmeister, executive director of LAPD Devonshire PALS, said, “We plan to use the donation for our programs. We want to be able to expand our programs and start to provide more services that are free to the youth in our community.”
Representatives from local government officials also attended and presented certificates of recognition to the Church and the FYM Foundation, thus expressing their thanks to Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Executive Minister of the Church, and Brother Glicerio P. Santos IV, president of the FYM Foundation, for the great assistance having been provided.
Those in attendance included Mary MacAdam, area representative from Los Angeles City District 7; Councilmember Monica Rodriguez; Mirna Ezquivel, field deputy; from Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath; Lilia Monterrosa, field representative; U.S. Congressman Tony Cardenas of California’s 29th District; and Nick Kimball, City manager, from the office of San Fernando City Mayor Celeste T. Rodriguez.
There was also a video message presented from the Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles (Consul General Edgar B. Badajos,) who commended both the FYM Foundation and the Church as he stated, “The positive impacts of the Care For Humanity program in the lives of numerous individuals create a multiplier effect. They inspire hope and also encourage individual acts of kindness and generosity.” — With reports from Eva Basallaje of INC News Section