Reaching New Heights Foundation Hosts Stand Down Outreach Event for Veterans and Homeless in San Bernardino
Non-Profit Organization Takes Action to Combat Homeless Crisis in San Bernardino and Support Local Veterans
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (August 24, 2022)—Reaching New Heights Foundation (RNHF), a nonprofit veteran organization, is hosting a Veterans Stand Down and Homeless Resource Event on Wednesday, October 12, 2021, at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino. The one-day event is designed to support Inland Empire veterans and to provide much-needed resources to the area’s homeless population.
On average, there are 960 veterans a year who are homeless in San Bernardino. The 2020 San
Bernardino Homeless Count Survey shows the homeless count in 2020 increased 19.9% over 2019. RNHF is hoping the Veteran Stand Down event will be a way to take action against the extensive homeless issue that has been referred to as a “human services crisis.”
“We believe in making a difference so we’re bringing over sixty different service providers to one place. We are asking that the providers not just hand out information, but provide on-site services,” said RNHF Founder and CEO Sgt. Major (Ret.) Gregory Coker. “Normally it would takea veteran or a homeless individual several months to receive this kind of service we’re providing in one day.”
In the military, a stand down is an opportunity to pause and regroup to help those in need. With this Veterans Stand Down event, two underserved and at-risk populations—veterans and the homeless—will be able to regroup with access to an abundance of resources.
“Veterans will receive surplus clothing, access to medical and dental service, counseling and more. The homeless will receive free food, clothing, haircuts, medical checkups, and showers, said Coker. “We want to give our homeless and veterans a hand up, not a handout.”
RNHF is collaborating with local city, county, state, and federal organizations to host the event.
Key supporters include San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs, VA Loma Linda Veteran HealthCare System, The Salvation Army, United Way, Goodwill, IEHP, Molina Healthcare, San Manuel Casino and Volunteers for Veterans Foundation.
After the event, RNHF is committed to following up on the success of all individuals who register to receive help and will provide 6 -12 months of additional support.
EVENT DETAILS:
October 12, 2022
Perris Hill Park
1135 E. Highland Ave. San Bernardino, CA 92408 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Event Website: standdownvet.com
About Reaching New Heights Foundation
Founded in 2013, Reaching New Heights Foundation, Inc. is an award-winning non-profit organization created by a veteran for veterans. It proudly helps Inland Empire veterans successfully transition from active-duty military service, incarceration, or homelessness to life as civilians and productive members of society. Reaching New Heights assists nearly 300 veterans a month with a variety of services including housing, jobs, educational resources, mentorships and more. For more information visit www.rnhf.org
“Women should not take chances. Every woman should get an annual breast cancer screening and because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to schedule an exam,” said LaSalle Medical Associates CEO Dr. Arteaga.
REDLANDS, CALIF. LaSalle Medical Associates encourages women to come in for breast cancer screening during October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. ” October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.,” said the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network says mammograms should start at 40 for women at average risk, but before40 for women with a higher risk profile, such as a genetic mutation, family history, a benign breast disease diagnosis, or radiation therapy to the chest at a young age.
“Women should not take chances. Every woman should get an annual breast cancer screening and because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to schedule an exam,” said LaSalle Medical Associates CEO Dr. Albert Arteaga.
Dr. Arteaga himself lost a younger sister to breast cancer when she was in her 40s. “There were three of us,” said Dr. Arteaga. “Our youngest sister never opened up to tell either me or her older sister—both of us being doctors—that she had a lump on her breast. Later we learned that she kept making excuses about it, ‘I bumped myself’ or ‘It’s just a bruise’ and she basically ignored it for over six months.
“She was in her early 40s and unfortunately, the disease spreads more rapidly in younger women than it does in women who are past menopause, due to female hormones that promote growth. Our family had no history of cancer, and she was otherwise healthy. But at the age of 48 years, six months, and 28 days she died.
“Once she was diagnosed, she was a good patient and followed her doctors’ orders and participated fully in her treatment. The cancer metastasized to her brain, and she was able to beat that. But in the end, it spread to her liver, and that was the end.”
When asked what he would say to women about this tragic disease, Dr. Arteaga said, “Stop living in denial! At the first sign of a lump, make an appointment to see your physician. And make it a habit to get screened every October when breast cancer awareness month comes around, which is a good way to remember it’s time for a routine mammogram.”
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 or to make an appointment call the office closest to you: Fontana (909) 823-4454; San Bernardino17th Street (909) 887-6494; San Bernardino Mt. Vernon Ave. (909) 884-9091; Rialto (855) 349-6019; and Hesperia(760) 947-2161.
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 380,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare counties.
“The San Bernardino County Medical Society is honored to select Dr. Arteaga for this recognition because he is such a loyal Society member and a standout in health care, advancing critical work in medical treatment and equity in the Latinx community,” said Society CEO Alison Elsner.
REDLANDS, CALIF. The San Bernardino County Medical Society has recognized LaSalle Medical Associates CEO Dr. Albert Arteaga for his dedicated service to the people of San Bernardino County. Dr. Arteaga founded LaSalle Medical Associates 38 years ago. LaSalle’s clinics have served thousands of children and their parents.
“The San Bernardino County Medical Society is honored to select Dr. Arteaga for this recognition because he is such a loyal Society member and a standout in health care, advancing critical work in medical treatment and equity in the Latinx community,” said Society CEO Alison Elsner.
LaSalle Medical Associates’ Hispanic roots run deep. Dr. Arteaga took his medical education at LaSalle Medical School in Mexico City. LaSalle is a French name and the colleges that bear this name trace their origin to the first Latin American college founded by St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, founder of the De La Salle Brothers religious order and the Patron Saint of all teachers.
“I chose to use the LaSalle name for my clinics to give it a subtle connection to its Hispanic roots. People from Mexico and other Latin American countries recognize the name and the quality associated with it,” said Dr. Arteaga.
“I don’t doubt that my own Hispanic heritage and ability to speak Spanish helps me connect with our Hispanic patients,” said Dr. Arteaga. “Our clinics are here to treat all patients, regardless of their race or ethnicity. We want everyone to come, and we treat African American, Asian, and white patients. Overall, some 60 to 65 percent of our patients are Hispanic.”
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 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; and Hesperia (760) 947-2161. TheVictorville clinic that was temporarily closed during the height of the Covid pandemic due to staff shortages, will reopen before the end of the year.
About LaSalle Medical Associates
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 380,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, and Tulare counties.
“Our entire approach can be summed up as ‘Friendship Is Good for One’s (Mental) Health,'” says Ceseña. “Friends need to learn how to help their friends—and family—when life starts getting them down. The skills learned are immediately useful and give men (and women) real solutions when life for their friends and loved ones becomes overwhelming.”
“Our classes teach people how to recognize and support those who are carrying heavy mental health or addiction burdens,” said Ceseña.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— “Men in general and Black and Latino men, in particular, don’t like to talk about their emotions,” says Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program director Gerzon Ceseña. “They don’t want to appear weak or vulnerable because they have been taught their whole lives that men don’t cry and must always be strong.”
The Making Hope Happen Foundation obtained grant funding to open a training program that teaches people how to accurately recognize when someone may be in need and then, using proven techniques, helps them to take the first step—to open up and talk.
“We don’t offer clinical training,” said Ceseña, “but we do offer an introductory QPR Gatekeeper (Question, Persuade, Refer) course and two Mental Health First Aid courses, one that focuses on adults and one on youth. They both include lessons about anxiety, depression, symptoms of psychosis, and how to recognize the cues that can help participants refer them to the appropriate professionals,” said Ceseña.
Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program director Gerzon Ceseña
In addition, suicidal thoughts or feelings of desperation can also be contributing factors. The IE Men’s Mental Health initiative introductory course lasts only 90 minutes and trains participants on how to recognize suicidal ideation and gives students practical advice on how to get those suffering from this condition to open up about it.
“Our entire approach can be summed up as ‘Friendship Is Good for One’s (Mental) Health,'” says Ceseña. “Friends need to learn how to help their friends—and family—when life starts getting them down. The skills learned are immediately useful and give men (and women) real solutions when life for their friends and loved ones becomes overwhelming.”
The Making Hope Happen Foundation supports the educational mission of the San Bernardino City Unified School District which has embraced the power of hope as a primary driver of personal motivation and community change. Making Hope Happen Foundation engages people, builds partnerships, provides leadership, and delivers resources where they are needed to achieve a thriving and innovative community in which every student is a life-long learner and can be successful in meeting their hopes and aspirations. For more information, please visit www.MakingHope.org.
The Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health initiative offers free mental health training for non-professionals, equipping them to recognize, approach and support friends, family, and colleagues. With support from Dignity Health and the Unihealth Foundation, Making Hope Happen Foundation has trained thousands of local men and women in Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid and/or QPR Gatekeeper.
For more information on The IE Men’s Mental Health Initiative please visit www.IEMensMentalHealth.org or call (909) 347-7234.
“I was surprised by the great turnout we had at last years Red Kettle Kick Off, and I am hopeful we can repeat that this November,” said Lemann.
“The Salvation Army serves as one of the most trusted and effective providers of services to the hungry, the homeless, the hopeless, the addicted and people in need. Their doors are always open,” said Wilfrid “Bill” Lemann.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.— Local attorney Wilfrid “Bill” Lemann, partner at Fullerton, Lemann, Schaefer & Dominick, LLP, is the Red Kettle Kick-Off master of ceremonies for 2022. The annual start of the Bell Ringing season for The Salvation Army is Thursday, November 17th at 5:30 PM, at the Bear Springs Hotel Events Center, 27923 Highland Ave, Highland, CA 92346.
“I was surprised by the great turnout we had last year, and I am hopeful we can repeat that this November,” said Lemann. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has always been a key sponsor of this event and Tribal Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena will be giving the keynote address this year. She’s an outstanding speaker and always has a message worth listening to.”
Bill Lemann has served as the master of ceremonies for the Red Kettle Kick Off for most of the last 25 years. “His humor, relationships with community leaders, elected officials and lifelong dedication to the San Bernardino community are legendary,” said Brian Cronin the Red Kettle Kick-off Chair. “It is an honor for Bill to be our Master of Ceremonies and help The Salvation Army serve those in need.”
Hungry, homeless, hopeless? trouble paying monthly bills, drug, or alcohol addiction? The Salvation Army helps people in need with all these problems and more. Different programs have different funding sources and one of the most important sources is the annual Red Kettle Kick Off campaign each Christmas season.
The Salvation Army bell ringers in front of your favorite stores collect money that provides food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; food baskets available daily, hot meals, clothing, and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available.
During the Christmas season, The Salvation Army also delivers holiday food baskets to about 500 local families and provides toys to children whose parents cannot afford them.
On Christmas Eve, The Salvation Army of San Bernardino hosts a Christmas Dinner that historically provides a delicious meal to approximately 200 people. Donations from people who donate to the Red Kettles help make this possible.
“The Salvation Army serves as one of the most trusted and effective providers of services to the homeless, the hungry the hopeless, the addicted and people in need. Their doors are always open,” said Lemann.
Donors are asked to drop off turkeys, hams, canned food, cash, checks or gift cards at the Salvation Army’s Corps Office at 838 Alta Street, Redlands, 92373.
The Salvation Army has served San Bernardino since 1887, and Redlands since 1885, supporting those in need without discrimination. They serve the cities of: San Bernardino, Redlands, Highlands, Rialto, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Bloomington, Mentone, Grand Terrace, Muscoy, and the mountain communities.
For more information call (909) 792-6868.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church and offers holistic programs for individuals of all. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world.
The Salvation Army has served San Bernardino since 1887, and Redlands since 1885, supporting those in need without discrimination. They serve the cities of: San Bernardino, Redlands, Highlands, Rialto, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Bloomington, Mentone, Grand Terrace, Muscoy, and the mountain communities.
Captain Joseph McFee, serving with the San Francisco Salvation Army Corps in 1891. started the Red Kettle.
Captain Joseph McFee, serving with the San Francisco Salvation Army Corps in 1891, wanted to serve Christmas dinner to the poor in his neighborhood. But he didn’t have money to do so.
REDLANDS, CALIF.— “I have been asked many times, how and why did The Salvation Army start ringing those silver bells during the Christmas season to encourage donations,” said Major Isaias Braga, Commander of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino. “Well, this is how it all began…
Captain Joseph McFee, serving with the San Francisco Salvation Army Corps in 1891, wanted to serve Christmas dinner to the poor in his neighborhood. But he didn’t have money to do so.
As a sailor in Liverpool, England, Captain McFee saw people on the docks throw money into a large kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” to help the poor. He decided this might work in California too.
Captain McFee set up a kettle at the Oakland Ferry Landing, which operated a ferry that was, in those days, the only way across San Francisco Bay. He put a sign on the kettle saying, “Keep the Pot Boiling” and raised enough money to serve the Christmas dinner.
His idea spread quickly, and by 1897 Salvation Army Corps nationwide were collecting money in kettles to serve the needy in their communities. Among the Salvation Army Corps collecting money this way before the turn of the 20th Century was The Salvation Army of San Bernardino, which was formed in 1887.
Tom Brickely invites people to donate to The Salvation Army outside of Walmart in Highland. Tom is long time The Salvation Army advisory board member and former president of Brickely Environmental. Please donate to help the children have a great Christmas.
Lynn Valbuena, Chair of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, is the keynote speaker at this year’s Red Kettle Kick-Off event for The Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle 2022 Christmas campaign on Thursday, November 17th at 5:30 PM.
For nearly 50 years, Chairwoman Valbuena has held numerous elected and appointed positions within San Manuel tribal government.
Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY. For local information call (909) 792-6868. Donors may drop off turkeys, hams other food, cash or gift cards at the Salvation Army’s Corps Office at 838 Alta Street, Redlands California 92373
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church and offers holistic programs for individuals of all. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world.
The Salvation Army has served San Bernardino since 1887, and Redlands since 1885, supporting those in need without discrimination. They serve the cities of: San Bernardino, Redlands, Highlands, Rialto, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Bloomington, Mentone, Grand Terrace, Muscoy, and the mountain communities.
PHOTO CAPTION: Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, will deliver the keynote address at the kick-off event for The Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle campaign.
“We are delightedto have Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, serve as the keynote speaker for the 2022 Ked Kettle Kick-Off,” said Major Isaias Braga, Commander of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino.
REDLANDS, CALIF.—Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, will deliver the keynote address at the kick-off event for The Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle campaign.
The “miracle” of Christmas is repeated through the joy of caring, sharing and donations to The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles. The ringing of the Silver Bells begins with The Red Kettle Kick-Off. This year’s event is Thursday November 17th at 5:30 PM.
For nearly 50 years, Chairwoman Valbuena has held numerous elected and appointed positions within San Manuel tribal government.
Valbuena has held several officer positions on the Business Committee, including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice Chairwoman and now her fifth terms as Chairwoman. Valbuena also has a long history of service and leadership with regional, state and national organizations, including the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN), where she is currently serving her 27th year as Chairwoman.
PHOTO CAPTION: Majors Isaias (left) and Adelma Braga.
“We are delighted to have Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, serve as the keynote speaker for the 2022 Ked Kettle Kick-Off,” said Major Isaias Braga, Commander of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino. “The tribe has supported the mission of The Salvation Amy for decades. We are honored to serve the same community,” he added.
PHOTO CAPTION: Red Kettle Kick Off
Lynn remains focused on serving the San Manuel tribal community and continuing efforts to preserve and strengthen the Tribe’s Serrano culture, governmental sovereignty and the Tribe’s long tradition of service to all who dwell or visit Serrano ancestral lands that includes the San Bernardino valley.
In 2019–20 The Salvation Army served 22,268 households that included 105,602 meals and 10,072 households receiving groceries. The Hospitality House provided 31,534 nights of shelter to families and children experiencing homelessness; 1,612 at-risk children participated in educational and recreational programs.
For Christmas, the Salvation Army creates holiday food baskets for about 500 local families. On Christmas Eve, The Salvation Army of San Bernardino hosts a Christmas Dinner that before covid, historically provided a delicious meal to approximately 200 people. Donations from people who donate to the Red Kettles help make this possible.
The Salvation Army of San Bernardino serves the cities of San Bernardino, Redlands, Highland, Rialto, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Bloomington, Mentone, Grand Terrace, Muscoy and the mountain communities.
Suggested donation for the Red Kettle Kick Off is $250 per person, Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY. For local information call (909) 792-6868. Donors may drop off turkeys, hams, other food, cash or gift cards at the Salvation Army’s Corps Office at 838 Alta Street, Redlands California, 92373.
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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
PHOTO CAPTION: Majors Isaias (left) and Adelma Braga.
“We are delighted to have been given this posting and we are already working on making this Corps an even more effective provider of services here.”
REDLANDS, CALIF.—The Salvation Army has appointed new leaders, Majors Isaias and Adelma Braga, to manage the San Bernardino/Redlands Corps and tasked them with both consolidating and expanding services to the greater San Bernardino community.
“We are delighted to have been given this posting,” says Major Isaias Braga, “and we are working on making this Corps an even more effective provider of services.” They have already combined the formerly separate San Bernardino and Redlands administrations into a single unit, located at 838 Alta St., Redlands.
This dynamic husband and wife team are originally from Brazil and have been instrumental in making good things happen everywhere that the Salvation Army has sent them. They met in 1976 at a Bible study. “Isaias was my first date,” says Adelma, “and we got married in 1980.”
The couple has three grown children: Isaias, Jr., who is 40 and an economist in Colorado; Felipe, 39, who is a Property Project Coordinator for the Salvation Army’s Northwest Seattle Corps; and daughter Aline, 36, also a Salvation Army officer, whose husband served in the U.S. Army as staff sergeant for 13 years (including two tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan and Korea), now on leave from the Salvation Army in order to care for her ill mother-in-law. Isaias and Aline each have two children and Felipe, one.
The Bragas moved to the USA in 1992, joined The Salvation Army in 1993 and spent 16 years with the organization, where from initial home meetings, they founded the first-ever Portuguese-speaking ministry, starting at the Torrance Corps, CA and now in operation at Redondo Beach Corps, CA.
The Salvation Army next invited them to take over a senior residential facility in Redondo Beach in 2005. That operation hosted 50 seniors and served 3,500 meals each week to residents and community members with a Meals on Wheels Program.
In 2012 the Bragas relocated to Colorado, first in Broomfield and then in Fort Collins for a total of seven years, followed by a two-year assignment to Renton, Washington. They then were appointed to their homeland, Brazil, where the Salvation Army gave Isaias the job of National Officer for Government Relations in Brasília, the Capital of Brazil.
PHOTO CAPTION: Majors Isaias (left) and Adelma Braga flank Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro.
Having served in the Brazilian Army from 1977 to 1987, mustering out as a First Infantry Lieutenant, Isaias knew the Brazilian system and during his Salvation Army posting, established close relationships with the country’s President and other prominent Brazilian leaders.
Unfortunately, Adelma was diagnosed with breast cancer, so the couple had to return from overseas for her treatment on a short medical leave. Happily, Adelma is now in remission and working alongside Isaias as they confront the challenge of finding a way to combine the Corps’ operations in four different locations into one, while also expanding the capacities of all their social services programs in order to serve an ever-increasing demand for Salvation Army services.
Major Braga’s team has identified a five-acre site in San Bernardino that could meet the Corps’ needs and is now in negotiations to secure the land, as well as the necessary funding for a building to house the church and all its service units.
“We will be able to use the proceeds from selling our existing lands and buildings,” says Major Braga, “but we will need additional resources in order to be able to build a facility large enough to accommodate all our needs.”
The Salvation Army opened in San Bernardino in 1887 and has been helping people in need since then. Its programs have proven effective in dealing with drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, hunger and coping with life’s many challenges. To find out more about the Salvation Army’s many community services and how you can get assistance or contribute to its mission, 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
“I’ve quit drinking and for the first time in years, I was able to buy school clothes for my children and a sturdy pair of shoes for myself for work. Mike Delgado at The Salvation Army is helping me now to qualify for section 8 housing. I’m excited about work and feel so much better now that a big weight has been taken off of me. All I can say is that you should never give up.” (From left) Angel, Hope, Zoe, Andrew, Nicholas and Noah (twins), and Amanda Arista.
“We’re gonna be okay, thanks to the Salvation Army!” says Amanda Arista
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.—A few years ago, a young mother saw her children’s dad getting into trouble with drugs and going downhill. She got him involved with the Salvation Army’s Hospitality House program and today he’s clean and sober, has a good job and his life is in good order.
Unfortunately, things later took a turn for the worse for that single mother of six, Amanda Arista. In 2019 she lost her job and was evicted from the residence she had been renting, along with her children ages 10 to 16. She didn’t know what to do and it broke her heart to place three of her children with their father and three with her mother. Then Covid hit.
Her mom got ill and Amanda started caring for her. For a while, her mother got better but then took a turn for the worse and passed away in August 2021. Amanda went on a mental and emotional roller coaster, sometimes up, sometimes down. Her mom had always been the one to help her with paperwork for things like applying for government help. She found herself unable to fill out Social Security assistance forms.
Amanda Arista said “I prayed for help from God and who should come to my rescue but my children’s father, Miguel, who got in touch and told me he hadn’t realized how bad things were.”
Amanda started drinking heavily and got into such a dark mood that she was sometimes afraid to leave her room. She was losing the will to live. She prayed for help from God and who should come to her rescue but her children’s father, Miguel, who got in touch and told her he hadn’t realized how bad things were.
And that’s when everything started to change for the better. The man she had helped to recover from his own downward spiral now turned out to be the one to help her. On a Saturday, Miguel told her about the Salvation Army’s Hospitality House program and that as it helped him, it could now help her.
The following Monday, Naomi Goforth, the Hospitality House Program Director, and Mike Delgado, the Social Services Director for the Salvation Army’s San Bernardino Corps, contacted her and processed her into the same program that had been so helpful for Miguel.
Delgado says, “Usually, our referrals come from churches, county agencies or veterans’ programs. Amanda’s case was different, as her children’s father, who she had referred to us a few years ago, was the one who got her into our program. It’s a great example of ‘paying it forward’ paying off for her and her children.”
“I was really in a dark place,” says Amanda, “depressed and anxious, talking to myself. Miguel saw that I needed help, and he got me connected with the Salvation Army. Today, I’m mentally stable, I have a place to live, I have my kids back with me and in school, and I have a job working for Super 8. The Salvation Army is paying the rent on two motel rooms for us, as the Hospitality House residence is at capacity right now.
Mike Delgado says, “Usually, our referrals come from churches, county agencies or veterans’ programs. Amanda’s case was different, as her children’s father, who she had referred to us a few years ago, was the one who got her into our program. It’s a great example of ‘paying it forward’ paying off for her and her children.”
“I’ve quit drinking and for the first time in years, I was able to buy school clothes for my children and a sturdy pair of shoes for myself for work. Mike Delgado is helping me now to qualify for section 8 housing. I’m excited about work and feel so much better now that a big weight has been taken off of me. All I can say is that you should never give up.”
The Salvation Army is able to help people like Miguel, Amanda and their children thanks to the generosity of the people and organizations who contribute money and other resources like food and clothing. To find out more about the Salvation Army’s Hospitality House Program and other Salvation Army services, visit their website at https://sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org/
About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is able to help people like Miguel, Amanda and their children thanks to the generosity of the people and organizations who contribute money and other resources like food and clothing. To find out more about the Salvation Army’s Hospitality House Program and other Salvation Army services, go to https://sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org/ or call (909) 888-4880.
REDLANDS, CA— Last week, Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced that the new Raspberry Rally cookie will join its nationwide lineup for the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie season. The thin, crispy cookie is a “sister” cookie to the beloved Thin Mints®, infused with raspberry flavor instead of mint and dipped in the same delicious chocolaty coating. Raspberry Rally gives devoted Girl Scout Cookie lovers yet another reason to be excited for the upcoming cookie season. This must-have new cookie will be the first in the Girl Scout Cookie lineup to be exclusively offered for online sale and direct shipment only, enhancing girls’ e-commerce sales and entrepreneurial skills. Raspberry Rally will be available to consumers nationally during the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie season. Girl Scouts in San Gorgonio and across the United States will offer the Raspberry Rally cookie next season alongside favorites like Thin Mints®, Adventurefuls™ and and Caramel deLites®.
Cookie season is an exciting annual event for Girl Scouts across the nation. Proceeds raised from in-person and online cookie orders directly benefit local councils and troops. When Girl Scouts run their own cookie business, they are a part of the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. Girl Scouts learn leadership, problem-solving, and community building through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, resulting in an invaluable experience that cultivates an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program encourages girls to be risk takers, to think outside of the box, and to be confident in their own abilities. Whether they’re working toward earning their Cookie Goal Setter badge as a Daisy or their My Cookie Business Resume badge as an Ambassador, Girl Scouts are learning qualities crucial for all forms of leadership and life-skills. The program embraces the understanding of the world of business, money management, and entrepreneurship. Cookie Business badges range anywhere from goal setting to learning effective in-person and online sales pitches, using market research, creating business plans, and implementing digital marketing campaigns.
Available nationwide, every purchase of the online-exclusive Raspberry Rally cookie supports local Girl Scouts who are helping make our world a better place. Let’s come together to celebrate the young change-makers who are solving problems and learning new skills—one box of cookies at a time.
Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio kicks off cookie season on January 29, 2023 in San Bernardino and Riverside County; visit www.girlscoutcookies.org to sign up to be notified as soon as Raspberry Rally and other Girl Scout Cookies are on sale. Online marketing begins January 15, 2023.
Find your adventure at Girl Scouts by joining or volunteering at www.gssgc.org/join.
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We serve more than 10,000 girls in Riverside and San Bernardino counties with the dedicated support of 3,000 adult volunteers. We believe that in order to be a leader within your community, you have to truly become a part of that community. Girl Scouts offer girls the unique opportunity to identify and support issues that are important to them, form partnerships with other people, businesses, and organizations and create sustainable projects that change the world around them. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit gssgc.org.
