“Demand has really picked up the past couple of months. We are serving more meals and distributing more food than ever,” says Mike Delgado, Social Service Director for the Salvation Army’s San Bernardino Corps.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.— The San Bernardino area Salvation Army Summer Meals Program is in full swing and ready to help area residents enjoy good-tasting and healthy hot meals.
“The Summer Meals Program at our San Bernardino Hospitality House served 5–7,000 meals per month last year, and we expect that because of inflation and a slowing economy, we will be serving more this year,” says San Bernardino Corps Major Isaias Braga.
Because of the current Covid situation, sit-down meals are served only to Hospitality House residents, located at 925 West Tenth Street, San Bernardino. Nonetheless, to-go hot meals in boxes are being distributed to community members in need at that location. Community meals are served from 4:30 to 5:30 pm six days per week, Sunday through Friday, and closed Saturday.
In addition to the to-go hot meals offered at the Hospitality House, the Salvation Army also distributes non-perishable food items and fresh meat through a community food distribution program on the first, second and third Thursdays of each month from 9:00 to 11:30 am.
On the first Thursday, this takes place at the Redlands Corps facility, 838 Alta St., Redlands, 92374; on the second and third Thursdays, at the San Bernardino Corps warehouse facility at the San Bernardino Airport, 295 North Leland Norton Way, San Bernardino, 92408.
“Demand has really picked up the past couple of months. We are serving more meals and distributing more food than ever,” says Mike Delgado, Social Service Director for the Salvation Army’s San Bernardino Corps. “In San Bernardino, we went from 120 to 168 food boxes and in Redlands from 120 to 144.”
As one recent meal recipient put it, “We’re eating good meals, thanks to the Salvation Army!”
Because the Salvation Army’s operations are so efficient, a gift of just $1.28 is enough to provide a nutritious meal for a hungry child, homeless adult, or struggling senior.
The San Bernardino Corps of The Salvation Army serves Big Bear, Blue Jay, Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, the mountain communities, Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto, Loma Linda, Yucaipa, Redlands, and San Bernardino.
To find out more about the Salvation Army’s Summer Meals Program and other Salvation Army programs, visit their website at https://sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org/
About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. To donate go to: www.salvationarmyusa.org
2022 Elma Vines Summer Health Academy (EVSHA) and Gala
Our 20th Annual Elma Vines Summer Health Academy is in the middle of the 6 week session and the Interns are learning so much! Please JOIN US at our Gala to celebrate their accomplishments.
The Gala will be held on Thursday, August 18, at 6:00pm at the Canyon Crest Country Club: 975 Country Club Dr, Riverside, CA 92506.
Tickets are available now. More Gala info below…
2022 EVSHA Gala
To celebrate the completion of the summer academy, we will have a Gala on Thursday, August 18th at 6:00pm. If you’re not able to participate, but would still like to make an impact, sponsorships and donation would greatly help us to continue what we do. You can donate/sponsor here: 2022 EVSHA Sponsorship or send a check payable to: JW Vines at 1550 E Washington St Ste 101, Colton CA, 92324 (c/o Dr Rogers).
On that night we will award interns based on the knowledge they obtained during the program. The Gala will be held at theCanyon Crest Country Club: 975 Country Club Dr, Riverside, CA 92506 at 6:00pm.
Ashley Agubata is a recent graduate from UCLA who made it on the Dean’s Honors List for multiple quarters in a row and achieved Latin Honors as she obtained her bachelors in Physiological Science. During her undergraduate years she was a middle blocker on the A team of UCLA Women’s Club Volleyball, becoming Co-Captain her senior year. She was also a member of the club Melanin and Medicine whose goal was to provide resources and access to black students to help them navigate the health profession of their choice. Ashley was a participant of Flying Samaritans which provided free health education and services to the residents of Rancho Escondido and Colonia Margarita Moran. In addition, she was a member of the Vondriska Lab which studies the role epigenetics play in cardiovascular disease in efforts to create new therapies. She is currently interested in pursuing the field of psychiatry as she hopes to help disrupt the generational curse that plagues many communities of color – especially the black community- being the strong stigma against mental health that is entrenched in the culture.
Fayez Eyabiis a rising sophomore at the University of California, Riverside, majoring in Biology and minoring in Spanish. He is from Escondido, CA and attended high school at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, CA. Currently, Fayez is participating in extracurriculars such as Cope Health Scholars at the Riverside Community Hospital, where he learns and practices basic clinical and patient care skills. As a treasurer in Pre SOMA, he informs his peers about osteopathic medical education and prepares them for success as osteopathic physicians down the road. On the weekends, he spends his mornings at the Shahaba Initiative. The Shahaba Initiative is a non-profit organization which distributes food, clothes, housing items and other good to the underserved communities of Riverside and San Bernardino. The specialty where Fayez sees himself in the future is operating on a variety of patients as an Orthopedic Surgeon.
Noel Simon is an upcoming sophomore at the University of California, Merced, majoring in Biology. During the summer of his senior year of high school, he had a job at Sam’s Club. His most significant accomplishments were making the Dean’s list during his first year of college and placing second in the Riverside County Science Fair in Microbiology, in 10th grade. Some attributes that he possesses is he’s willing to help when he can, tries to complete tasks the best he can, and will ask questions to better understand information provided. His success story is that during his science fair project, he found out that a Haitian tea plant was able to decrease heart rate, reducing hypertension. His interests are watching movies and shows, especially when he can watch them with his family. Another interest is basketball, whether watching or playing it. With his interest being basketball, it has led him to find his interest in being an orthopedic surgeon, so that he can help future athletes.
Ranique Brown is a post-Baccalaureate student at La Sierra University. She received her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica. She was born and raised in Jamaica. She always knew she wanted to become a physician and she understood how beneficial it would be for her to study medicine abroad. She made the decision to retake her pre-requisite courses in the United States so that she could apply to US medical schools and become the best physician possible for her future patients. Ranique’s goal is to become an Emergency Medicine Physician, just like her older sister, however she is still open to exploring the other specialties. Ranique enjoys using her hands, and during the Covid-19 pandemic she discovered her love of crocheting and knitting. She and her fellow classmates are in the process of starting a crochet club at La Sierra University, where they will use their talents to crochet items for the homeless and less fortunate.
2022 Elma Vines Summer Health Academy (EVSHA) Sponsorship Packets and Tickets:
$5,000 2022 Platinum Title Sponsor
Company announcements for 5 minutes on stage during our EVSHA Gala
Two company sponsored scholars
Full page advertisement in the banquet program and logo on our website until end of the year
Your company logo on all event written materials as a Platinum Title Sponsor
Your company logo on the event PowerPoint as a Platinum Title Sponsor
Recognition by the J.W. Vines Chairperson as a Platinum Title Sponsor night of the Gala
10 Tickets to the Gala (dinner included)
$2,000 Gold Sponsor
One company sponsored scholars
Half page advertisement in the Gala program and logo on our website until end of the year
Your company logo on all event written materials as a Gold Title Sponsor
Your company logo on the event PowerPoint as a Gold Title Sponsor
Recognition by the J.W. Vines Chairperson as a Gold Title Sponsor night of the Gala
6 Tickets to the Gala (dinner included)
$1,000 Silver Sponsor
Quarter page advertisement in the Gala program
Your company logo on all event written materials as a Silver Title Sponsor
Your company logo on the event PowerPoint as a Silver Title Sponsor
Recognition by the J.W. Vines Chairperson as a Silver Title Sponsor night of the Gala
4 Tickets to the Gala (dinner included)
$500 Bronze Sponsor
Business Card page advertisement in the Gala program.
Your company logo on all event written materials as a Bronze Title Sponsor
Your company logo on the event PowerPoint as a Bronze Title Sponsor
Recognition by the J.W. Vines Chairperson as a Bronze Title Sponsor night of the Gala
2 Tickets to the Gala (dinner included)
$200 Gala Program Advertisement
Advertisement in the Gala program booklet and Program Show.
1 Ticket to the Gala (dinner Included)
$35-$45 Gala Ticket
J.W. Vines Member – $35.00 ($45.00 at the door)
J. W. Vines Non-Member – $45.00 ($55.00 at the door)
Advertisement and Sponsorships are due by August 15th, 2022.
The J.W. Vines Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that has the reputation for supporting students’ efforts to enter the medical and health professions and for its evolving growth into a multi-faceted entity with demonstrated success in advocating diversity through innovative approaches to education funding, recruitment, and retention.
Your support is most needed and appreciated as we prepare for our 16th Annual Elma Vines Summer Health Academy.
If you would like to get involved, please become a member.
Photo caption: After a two-year Covid hiatus, families indulged in canapés, tea, cake, free plants, a book signing and new dolls with the American Girl Doll collection thanks to the San Bernardino City Library Foundation. The young ladies are ready to cut into the special cake for the American Girl Doll Tea Party.
(San Bernardino, Calif.) More than 110, daughters, sons, granddaughters, parents, and grandparents from throughout the Inland Empire enjoyed canapés, tea, and cake at the first American Girl Doll “Tea Party” in two years, thanks to the San Bernardino City Library Foundation.
The multi-generational American Girl Doll Tea Party took place recently at Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School, complete with a book signing from the school’s namesake and author Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry herself.
In opening his school to host the Tea Party, Dr. Christopher Tickell, Principal said he plans to make this a signature event of his school for the foreseeable future. “ I was so excited to be a part of such an amazing event. To see so many people working so hard together to make something special for our community. I look forward to hosting this tea again and again and again.”
San Bernadino City Library Director Ed Erjavek, and Library Foundation President Arlington Rodgers, Jr., welcomed the families to the celebration. San Bernardino City Council member Kimberley Calvin, and School Board member Dr. Gwen Dowdy Rodgers joined the festivities.
Families—complete with fathers, mothers, and grandparents—came from San Bernardino, Riverside, Rialto, Hesperia, Redlands, and Rancho Cucamonga to attend the American Girl Tea Party in San Bernadino. Four children won American Girl Dolls and books in the event’s free raffle.
Cheryl Brown former Assemblymember (retired) and San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member and committee chairperson and President Arlington Rodgers, Jr., served as emcees and led the afternoon with information, food, and fun.
Canapés and tea were served by youth and adult volunteers including Black Voice newspaper publisher Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, Jordan and Peyton Brown, Isabell and Olivia Lee ,San Bernardino City Library Foundation board members Mary Kay DeCrescenzo, Vice President, Operations, Debra A. Fields, Secretary, and Arlington Rodgers, Jr., President. The annual event attracts children and their parents from the Greater San Bernardino Area.
Lynn Summers presented the University of California’s local Master Gardener/Master Food Preserver program members who taught the children the oldest secrets on food preservation, making seed paper, pickled vegetables and gave all participants free milkweed plants.
Milkweed plants are the favorite food of Monarch butterflies. The children were asked to plant them to draw butterflies to their yards and help renew the butterfly population.
Angela Encinas , Children’s Librarian described how The San Bernardino City Library allows children to check out an American Girl Doll kit. It includes ethnically diverse dolls, a carrying case, accessories, a book about the doll and a journal. Children checking out the dolls are encouraged to write about their playing with the dolls in a journal. She included a reading of one of the journal pages and the author was in the audience, imagine the surprise on her face after hearing her words two years after she wrote them.
“Another great success of the day included The Girls Scouts obtaining enough sign-ups to start a new Girl Scout Troop in the Mt. Vernon area, the first new one in many years,” said Knea Hawley, Girl Scout executive.
The doll collection and the annual tea are both made possible thanks to the generous support of the people and organizations of San Bernardino that take delight in giving children entertaining educational experiences.
Foundation President Arlington Rodgers says, “Our deepest gratitude to our generous Foundation Partners who made the afternoon tea possible: Dr. Christopher Tickell, the Irvine Foundation, Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, the University of California Cooperative, Extension Master Food Preservers and Master Gardeners of San Bernardino, the Westside Action Group, Mary Kay DeCrescenzo, Debra Fields, Edison International, Amazon, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Friends of the Library, Johnnie Ralph, Shelby Obershaw, Dameron Communications and Evy Morales.
Planning for next year’s American Girl Tea Party begins next week. If you are interested in joining the planning, please call Stacy at (909) 381-8211.
The mission of the San Bernardino City Library Foundation is to make sure that our public libraries continue to be places where everyone in the community can gather, learn, grow, and interact.
Since 1995, the San Bernardino City Library Foundation has provided the San Bernardino Public Library system with the financial support it needs to provide new books for patrons, offer free tutoring for all academic levels, provide patrons with access to e-books and audiobooks, and provide innovative programs like a Makerspace and the American Girl Doll program.
Board members include Arlington Rodgers, Jr., President; Cheryl R. Brown, Vice President, Community Relations; Mary Kay DeCrescenzo, Vice President, Operations; Debra A. Fields, Secretary, Dr. Chris Tickell, Treasurer Evy Morales and Timothy Prince, Directors.
Photo caption: Riverside’s Kirsten Snyder, brought her daughter Addison Snyder and mother Norma Nelson to enjoy free afternoon tea, canapés, cake, plants, a book signing and new Dolls with Addison’s American Girl Doll.
Photo caption: “Thank you for the party,” said Yvonne Reed. She brought her granddaughter DaVyne McCrumb.
Photo caption: (From left) San Bernadino City Library Director Ed Erjavek, Assemblymember (retired) and San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member Cheryl Brown and Library Foundation President Arlington Rodgers, Jr., welcomed families to the American Girl Doll “Tea Party.”
San Bernardino Residents Esgar, and Paloma Rodriguez brought their daughter Everly to the American Girl Doll Tea Party.
Photo caption: Angela Encinas, San Bernardino Children’s Librarian reading from a page from a child’s journal imagine the girl’s surprise and her surprise that the girl and her mother were in the audience.
Photo caption: University of California local Master Gardener/Master Preserver program members taught the children how to make seed paper.
Photo caption: Amelie and Noé both brought their dolls and mom Ruth Soto was happy to bring them. “We are having so much fun. Thank you for having this,” said Ruth.
Photo caption: Blanca Lopez from San Bernardino brought her daughters Kailey and Allison Becerril, who are excited about their new milkweed plant. “We are going to have lots of butterflies at our house,” said Allison.
DSC06632 Photo caption: Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry spoke of resilience and held a book signing.
DSC06611 Photo Caption: Principal Dr. Christopher Tickell, said he plans to make this a signature event of his school for the foreseeable future. “ I was so excited to be a part of such an amazing event. To see so many people working so hard together to make something special for our community. I look forward to hosting this tea again and again and again.”
Photo caption: Riverside’s James Chung came with his wife Seonhye Chung.
Photo caption: Robert, Cynthia, Ace, and Aviana Love, came from Hesperia. Ace won a book in the raffle. Cynthia found the event online and “my daughter loves her doll, so we had to come, and we had a great time at the American Girl Doll ‘Tea Party.”
Photo caption: Library Foundation Board Secretary Debra A. Fields presents books to Serinitee-Love Taylor, Samauri-James Thompson, and Trinity-Rose Thompson at the American Girl Doll “Tea Party.”
Photo Caption: Lynn Summers presented the University of California’s local Master Gardener/Master Food Preserver program, and served as MC. Here Summers describes the American Girl Dolls. Also introduced was Corrine Tan the 2022 Doll of the Year who is from Vietnam.
Photo caption: San Bernardino City School Board member, Dr. Gwen Rodgers, and San Bernardino 6th Ward City Council member Kimberley Calvin.
Photo caption: Girls with plants! Angela Encinas, San Bernardino Children’s Librarian said, “The library’s American Girl Doll collection reflects the ethnic diversity of our community and youngsters can check out dolls that look like them. They can even customize them using the accessories that come with each doll.”
April Reya a medical assistant, gives the COVID-19 vaccination shot to Vicki Creighton, of Riverside, Recently, at the LaSalle Medical Associates medical office located in Rialto, Calif. .
“If it weren’t for the vaccine, I’m sure I would have ended up in the hospital,” said LaSalle Medical’s Compliance Officer, Barbara Graber.
(REDLANDS, Calif.) “We started the second week of July, now every Wednesday is “Covid Vaccine Day for Kids,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga, pediatrician, and the CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates.
“Now that Moderna has released its three variations on a Covid vaccine for younger people we are full speed ahead,” says Dr. Arteaga, “… we have been tracking the Covid 19 pandemic very closely and believe that the Moderna vaccine is the most effective option currently available.”
LaSalle Medical’s Compliance Officer, Barbara Graber, notes that five of LaSalle’s six clinics are providing Wednesday shots for youngsters. “We started slowly,” says Graber, “… now we are increasing the number of Covid-19 vaccines given weekly. We’ve given 170 shots in the first two weeks of August and parents are responding to our targeted internal outreach program that urges them to bring in their children for their vaccine.”
Graber says being proactive with outreach to clinic patients leads to more people getting the vaccine. “Our team is calling to ask parents to bring in their youngsters to get vaccinated. This makes prevention likely to be a lot more effective.”
The three vaccines are for children aged 6 months to 5 years, 6 to 11 years, and 12 years and older. There is a four-week wait between first and second shots.
Graber contracted Covid-19 herself and says, “If it weren’t for the vaccine, I’m sure I would have ended up in thehospital.” She had the two-shot regimen as well as two booster shots. “This vaccine has proven itself and is now an important addition to our tool kit to help people stay healthy, safe and out of the hospital.”
Barbara Graber, manager of compliance and special projects at LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., clinics accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, and Inland Empire Health Plan coverage, as well as Medicare Medi-Cal and cash.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. call the office closest to you: Fontana (909) 823-4454; San Bernardino 17th Street (909) 887-6494; San Bernardino Mt. Vernon Ave. (909) 884-9091; Rialto (855) 349-6019; Hesperia (760) 947-2161; and Victorville (855) 349-6019.
LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is one of the largest, independent, and Latino-owned healthcare companies in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The corporate office is in Redlands.
LaSalle operates six clinics employing more than 100 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults and seniors in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. LaSalle also accepts Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net, and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) coverage.
LaSalle is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality patient care to approximately 365,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare counties.
Kathy Chao Rothberg, CEO surrounded by members of its board and staff at the East Bay EDA before the award ceremony.
Oakland, Ca. — Lao Family Community Development earns runner-up position in the Community Impact Category at the 10th Annual East Bay Innovation Awards ceremony, held Thursday evening. August 4th, at the Fox Theater in Oakland. The program is designed to recognize extraordinary companies who embrace the use and implementation of innovation in their manufacturing, products, services, design, and information; it is sponsored by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance.
“We are proud to earn the runner-up placement in this category. The pool of finalist was very impressive! It acknowledges the positive impact that Lao Family programs are having on the diverse disadvantaged populations we serve,” said Kathy Chao Rothberg, LFCD’s Chief Executive Officer. “It further acknowledges our continuous commitment to a culture of high-quality and innovative programming and partnerships for the last four decades.”
Lao Family Community Development, headquartered in Oakland with satellite locations in San Pablo and Sacramento, delivers a carefully-designed holistic Integrated Service Delivery Model that combines a roadmap with individualized case plans, interventions, and best practices resulting in rapid financial self-sufficiency and permanent housing attainment among the diverse and unique populations it serves in the East Bay and the Sacramento region. Its innovative housing and workforce programs continue to dramatically transform the way families are able to earn livable income and exit out of homelessness into permanent housing that is affordable in less than six months.
The Lao Family assisted nearly 4,000 individuals, including 880 households, to stabilize, earn and secure income, save, bank, improve their credit and move into existing permanent housing in the marketplace between January 2017 to July 2022. From 2006 to 2022, Lao Family’s team grew from 22 to more than 132 and its revenue growth from $2M to $31M.
The Lao Family was formed as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in 1980. Today the organization serves individuals from 40 nationalities, delivers case management service in 35 languages, offers7 days a week service in some locations and impacts the lives of nearly 31,000 annually in three northern California counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, and Sacramento). Its mission to advance the wellbeing of diverse communities through culturally-informed employment, housing, and education has served over 400,000 Californians. LFCD concentrates on five core service areas: 1) adult education and vocational training, 2) youth education, leadership, and career exploration, 3) financial coaching/asset development, 4) work supports and health access, and 5) affordable housing, home ownership and economic development activities.
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For more information, visit lfcd.org, follow us on Facebook, and contact: Kathy Chao Rothberg, CEO | KRothberg@lfcd.org | (510) 334-4826.
American Girl Doll Tea Party this Saturday August 6th at noon
After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, youngsters will again indulge in Afternoon Tea and snacks with the American Girl Doll collection thanks to the San Bernardino City Library Foundation.
The tea starts at 12:00 noon on the sixth of August at Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School, 1250 W. 14th Street, San Bernardino. Refreshments and an educational program will be delivered by the University of California’s local Master Gardner/Master Preserver program.
This Saturday, youngsters will indulge in tea and snacks being served by dutiful adults who stand ready to ensure that the children have a delightful time. The annual event attracts children and their parents from the Greater San Bernardino Area.
Cheryl R. Brown, Board Member, American Girl Doll Tea Chairperson
“American Girl dolls represent the cultures of San Bernardino. Each one is unique, and the variety always finds favor with attendees—both kids and adults,” said Cheryl Brown, San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member.
Brown adds, “The library’s American Girl Doll collection reflects the ethnic diversity of our community and youngsters can check out dolls that look like them. They can even customize them using the accessories that come with each doll.”
All year round, children can check out an American Girl Doll kit, at San Bernardino City Library’s that includes one of several ethnically diverse dolls, a carrying case, accessories, a book about the doll, and a journal.
The program provides an engaging learning experience that provides a glimpse into different time periods in American history through each doll’s story and a chance for children to write about their own adventures.
The doll collection and the annual tea are both made possible thanks to the generous support of the people and organizations of San Bernardino that take delight in giving children entertaining educational experiences.
San Bernardino City Library Foundation partners include Edison International, the Irvine Foundation, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
San Bernardino City Foundation Board President Arlington Rodgers
“We had to suspend our in-person tea event during the Covid pandemic, but now that things have calmed down, we are eager to again welcome the public to our version of ‘afternoon tea’,” says Foundation President Arlington Rodgers.
A reservation is required to attend. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, August 3rd, BUT people who want to register up to the 5th are encouraged to try and sign up anyway, as if there are spaces still available, they will be accommodated.
To make your reservation call (909) 381-8211, by August 1, 2022, leave contact information and how many reservations. Participants are requested to call early.
The mission of the San Bernardino City Library Foundation is to make sure that our public libraries continue to be places where everyone in the community can gather, learn, grow, and interact.
Since 1995, the San Bernardino City Library Foundation has provided the San Bernardino Public Library system with the financial support it needs to provide new books for patrons, offer free tutoring for all academic levels, provide patrons with access to e-books and audio books, and provide innovative programs like a Makerspace and the American Girl Doll program.
Board members include Arlington C. Rodgers, Jr. President, Cheryl R. Brown, Vice President— Community Relations, Mary Kay De Crescenzo, Vice President-Operations, Debra A. Fields, Secretary, Timothy Prince, Director.
Yamileth Monarrez, joins The Making Hope Happen Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental program
“The addition of Ms. Monarrez to our training staff allows us to accommodate more students for our suicide prevention and mental health first aid classes,” says Ceseña.
(San Bernardino, Calif.)“I’m very happy to have been promoted to being an instructor by the Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program,“ says YamilethMonarrez, “because the courses address issues that I’ve personally experienced and now I feel I can do something to make things better.“
The Making Hope Happen Foundation‘s Inland Empire Men’s Mental programoffers free classesthat educate people on how to recognize signs of mental distress in people they know and love and teaches them how to get friends and family members to be willing to talk about what’s going on.
Program managerGerzonCeseña says, “Men—especially minority men—tend to be very reluctant to talk about problems they’re having. Instead, they often shut themselves off, which can make things worse. Our program is all about getting rid of the idea that real men don’t need help and instead, that real friends can help friends when things are tough.”
“Promoting Ms. Monarrez to our training staff allows us to accommodate more students for our suicide prevention and mental health first aid classes,” says Ceseña.
Yamileth Monarrez is a senior at UC Riverside and will be graduating in December. She spent a semester abroad at London South Bank University, taking a variety of courses, andpsychology is an area she has been interested in for some time.
The exposure to a different culture broadenedMonarrez‘s horizonswhile at the same time, showed how people everywhere often need to deal with the same problems.
Monarrez says, “At UCR I‘ve served as a mentor to freshmen. I really enjoy helping people and I wanted to work for IE Men’s Mental Health because the program emphasizes the need to de-stigmatize mental health issues so that people can get the help they need.”
Making Hope Happen is a nonprofit foundation linked with the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The nonprofit is based on the philosophy of Gallop Senior Scientist Dr. Shane J. Lopez. Hope allows people to envision a better future, design a path toward that future, and take purposeful steps toward it. As a result of a deep commitment to this quest, the San Bernardino Community and School Alliance (CASAwas reorganized and renamed the Making Hope Happen Foundation).
The Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health programoffers free mental health training for people who would like to be able to help friends or family members that would like to learn effective ways to approach friends or family members who seem to he hasemotional or mental health problems but aren’t sure about what to say or do.
For more information on The IE Men’s Mental Health Program,go to the group’s web page at IEMensMentalHealth.org or call (909) 347-7234.
Left to Right: Dr. Moliterno, Tim Evans and Dr. Schell. Drs. Randy Schell and David Moliterno of Lexington, Kentucky’s University of Kentucky Medical School rode from the Canadian border near Bellingham, Washington to San Diego on the Mexico line – 2,400 miles to raise funds for burials assisted by The Unforgettables Foundation (www.unforgettables.org).
The Unforgettables Foundation (“TUF”) has a chapter in a few states across the United States, as well as in the province of Ontario in Canada. Based in Redlands, California, of the Inland Empire and Inland Southern California region, the 22-year-old 501 (c)(3) non-profit is unique in its mission to aid and support at-risk, grief-stricken, and cash-strapped parents who are struggling with a child’s funeral costs.
The Unforgettables has existing extension affiliates in Ohio, Nevada, Tennessee, as well as, soon in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, the generation group cares about families.
Last summer, Drs. Randy Schell and David Moliterno of Lexington, Kentucky’s University of Kentucky Medical School rode from the Canadian border near Bellingham, Washington to San Diego on the Mexico line – 2,400 miles to raise funds for burials assisted by The Unforgettables Foundation (www.unforgettables.org).
It was called Dr. Randy’s Unforgettable Ride 2.0. About a year after Randy’s Ride through the mountains and coast of Washington, Oregon & California during about 30 days in August and September 2021, Kentucky experienced some terrible natural disaster flooding and some children drowned and died.
TUF will be doing what it can to help defray the burial costs for the pending funerals in Kentucky. Volunteers, including Lois Schell, RN and Brooke Pernice, country western/gospel recording artist and chaplain in Kentucky, will be working with the Board of TUF in the headquarter office in California to step up.
Says TUF CEO and Founder, a former children’s hospital chaplain in Loma Linda, California, Tim Evans, “We care about families who have lost children and try to help cover some of the funeral costs in order to show that the community cares about the concerns of the parents on a spiritual, emotional, social and financial level. All can donate at www.unforgettables.org”.
Drs. Randy Schell and David Moliterno who rode together all the over 2,400 miles of last summer/fall’s Dr. Randy’s Unforgettable Ride 2.0 will be doing an international version in 2022 on the Bamboo Road through Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia called Drs. David & Randy’s Unforgettable Global Ride 1.0.
Some of the funds raised will go to setting up the new Kentucky chapter of TUF and in specific to the special Kentucky for Kids special flood crisis fund.
Donate at the website at www.unforgettables.org. All donations go to the mission of assisting cash-strapped, at risk and grief-stricken parents struggling with the child’s funeral costs.
The Salvation Army Hospitality House Program Manager Naomi Goforth
“All of us who are part of the Hospitality House team love being able to help single women in need, and men or women with children, get back in control of their lives.”
(San Bernardino, Calif.) The San Bernardino Salvation Army Hospitality House stands ready to house homeless families and single women who need temporary, stable shelter. Their target population also includes multi-generational families, and single men with children as well.
“The Salvation Army Hospitality House serves as a safe refuge that provides residents with a supportive, caring environment and all the resources they need to deal with a wide variety of personal and/or family problems. It all starts with emergency shelter that can keep participants safely housed for 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on their circumstances,” says Program Manager Naomi Goforth.
At intake, each new arrival is assessed by trained Salvation Army intake staff. Once the scope of a client’s needs has been determined, each family is given a detailed individualized case plan and assigned to a case manager who will maintain close contact during their entire stay.
Each family’s case plan includes a comprehensive goals and objectives that cover their intake, transition to permanent housing, help finding a steady job, legal advocacy, child welfare aid, and education. Every resident is treated as an individual with individual needs and every case is different and gets a customized case plan.
“People who come to Hospitality House may have been sleeping in their cars or were recently released from a hospital. At intake, each new resident gets clothing, bed linens, hygiene products, and a chance to take a breath after whatever ordeal they have just gone through,” says Goforth.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” says one recent Hospitality House graduate.
“I’m a single mom and I lost my job during the pandemic. Thank goodness, at least my 15-year-old car was paid off and when we were no longer able to pay rent, that’s where we slept. I heard about Hospitality House from a friend and the people there have helped me find a new job, secure a place to live, and even got me enrolled in a course that’s going to add to my skill set so I can advance in my new-found career.”
Goforth says, “Our residents don’t just sit around and spin their wheels. They actively work their case plan. Our case managers are good at finding each individual’s motivation to resolve their homelessness and get back on their feet.”
“Sometimes, that may include a referral to one of our partner agencies for things like mental health services, substance use, and legal aid. Whatever they need, we can either provide help in-house or get them connected to the right providers,” says Goforth.
As current resident K.L. notes, “I had a pretty bad rent history and I knew not many landlords would want to take a chance on me, even though I now have a decent job. But the Salvation Army has helped me reestablish a better tenant history and now I have a place lined up to move to when my stay here ends next week.”
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. To donate, call 1-800 SATRUCK.
KVCR 91.9 Lifestyles with Lillian Vasquez talks to Cheryl Brown from the San Bernardino City Library Foundation Regarding the American Girl Tea on October 6, 2022. The Show airs tomorrow at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm and will repeat Saturday at 4:00 pm.
