Readers eager to help out
GIVING: East Rotary to aid Young Marines
| Friday, Dec 25 2009 08:50 PM
Last Updated Friday, Dec 25 2009 08:51 PM
THE CALIFORNIAN FEATURED A NUMBER OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND READERS CAME THROUGH WITH DONATIONS OF MONEY AS WELL AS THEIR PRECIOUS TIME.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW KERN COUNTY RESPONDED:
FOLLOWING THE CALIFORNIAN'S ARTICLE ABOUT GARDEN PATHWAYS Garden Pathways' Family to Family mentoring program, which is successfully helping people overcome hardship, several people called about becoming mentors, said Karen Goh, executive director.
One of those callers was Kristen Blue, 19, a college student who works full time and had been looking for a way to engage in the community and help make a difference.
"I saw the article and it was really inspiring so I went to their website and saw they only ask for one hour a week," Blue said. "It's a great opportunity and I don't think people realize that it doesn't take that much of your time to make a difference in one person's life."
The article featured a family that had fallen on hard times after a job loss and ended up in the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter. Mom Michelle Burdine found Garden Pathways and got paired with a mentor through its Family to Family program. Just knowing someone cared what happened to her helped Burdine move forward with her life. She found a job and eventually moved into a home.
"A lot of people are consumed with their work, school, their jobs, their family," Blue said. "They forget the importance of helping someone else out."
Although she's very busy with school and work, the Frontier High School graduate told Goh she has weekends free and is willing to give part of that time so she doesn't forget the importance of helping another person.
Mentor duties can range from reading to preschoolers up to working one on one with families coping with homelessness or other serious issues.
You can contact Garden Pathways at 633-9133. The website is garden pathways.org and Facebook page is facebook.com/gardenpathways.
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After our story featuring how Love INC (In the Name of Christ) was trying to help the Hernandez family ran Dec. 19, Executive Director Carmel Hicks was deluged with calls and e-mails. So much so, that she spent an entire day getting back to people.
The Hernandez family had been struggling with mom Carmen's illness, heart problems as well as daily dialysis for failing kidneys as dad Miguel Sr. worked in the fields. Ten-year-old Miguel Jr. had taken on all the household chores and looking after his three younger siblings.
Hicks said Love INC, a collaborative of more than 150 local churches that provide families with basic necessities and holiday gifts, had fulfilled the Hernandez' needs.
The donations and new volunteers spurred by The Californian's story will help meet the needs of the other 200 families in need this season.
Love INC's mailing address is P.O. Box 10082, Bakersfield, CA 93389. They can be reached by phone at 325-6838 or 325-8838 or e-mail at Carmel@loveinc bakersfield.org. The website is loveincbakersfield.org and the physical address is 1030 Stockton St., Bakersfield, CA 93305.
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Sandy Morris, a Bakersfield Police Department community relations specialist who runs the department's Christmas for Seniors program, said this year's operation was a "huge success."
Businesses, churches and nonprofits all pitched in and helped 978 needy seniors with supplies, gifts, cards and company.
"Thousands of children from pre-schoolers to college students all got involved," she said, calling the blending of generations "the magic of this program."
The Californian's article in late November generated exposure that allowed the effort to "just explode" this year.
Some recipients and family members have "called in tears" to express gratitude for the support shown, Morris said.
Another program featured in the story, Be a Santa to a Senior, was sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care.
"Everything went really well," said coordinator Debora Savoy. About 550 seniors were helped, with 120 volunteers showing up to wrap and deliver gifts. Every senior nominated received assistance.
The Christmas for Seniors program is operated by the Bakersfield Police Department. And Home Instead can be reached at 321-3235.
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Lots of people called the Kern Chapter of the American Red Cross after reading in the newspaper Dec. 2 about how the nonprofit helps local people who experience some kind of disaster.
Chapter officials had requested cash donations, volunteer time and goods such as diapers, baby wipes, bottled water and new or like-new blankets.
"The (response) that stands out the most is that a gentleman called that very day and donated $1,000!" the chapter's volunteer and emergency services director, Jennifer Perfect, wrote in an e-mail.
The chapter is located at 5035 Gilmore Ave. It can be reached by calling 324-6427, or by visiting kernred cross.org.
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The Kern Adult Literacy Council, like many nonprofits, had been struggling as the slumping economy meant fewer donations.
Literacy is a serious issue in Kern where 24 percent of residents 16 years old and older lacked basic prose literacy skills in 2003, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
After The Californian wrote about how 60-year-old Ruth Greasham's life was changed through the simple act of one person donating their time, calls flooded the council, according to Executive Director Donna Hylton.
"I would say hundreds of people have called, sent e-mail, mailed or went to the website to make a donation. We have signed up several tutors, some starting right away and some wanted to wait until after the holidays. The donations have been pouring in," Hylton wrote in an e-mail.
Giving your time doesn't just help the council or those learning to read.
"If I had known how wonderful it was to be a tutor, I would have started years ago," said Phyllis Gutierrez, who started volunteering at the council in 2001. "It's one of the most satisfying things I do."
Contact the council at 24-3213 or e-mail keadult@zeus.kern.org or you can donate via PayPal at kernalc.org.
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If one thing is clear, it's that readers love supporting youth who are dedicating themselves to leadership, community service and respect for others.
Such was the case when The Californian published a story about the Bakersfield Young Marines, a nonprofit group in need of volunteers, donations, and equipment and office supplies to serve its more than 80 youth, ages 8 to 18.
Pam Schull, adjutant of the Bakersfield Young Marines, said the group has received several calls from people either wanting to sign up their children for the program or give donations.
So far, one reader donated a projector, complete with a projector screen, for classroom instruction. Another reader donated a Mac laptop. The group was in need of at least one computer for printing activities and projects and keeping track of Young Marines information.
"We were so excited about the projector," said Schull. "Usually we end up borrowing one but we can't buy because it's so expensive."
Looks like they'll be getting more support.
The Bakersfield East Rotary is also interested in helping the Young Marines with their holiday season wish list, said Carole Cohen, community services director for the rotary.
"Thank you, thank you," said a happy Schull. These donations "have been huge to us."
If you would like to lend support, please contact John Gonzales, unit commanding officer, 399-5137 or e-mail john.gonzales@young marines. com or contact Pam Schull, unit adjutant, at 665-8936 or e-mail pamschull@ yahoo.com
Checks can be made out to the Bakersfield Young Marines, and donations are tax-deductible. Its website is bakersfieldyoungmarines.webs.com.
