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Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 19, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016 SECTION B AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY JOHN NICOLORO MEMORIAL DEDICATED AT PAMELA PARK HELP US HELP OTHERS St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “We often think that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. The East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless (ESGVCH) is a faith-based 501c3 non-profit charitable organization incorporated in 1994. ESGVCH’s mission is to bring hope and restore dignity to people without homes by providing shelter, alleviating hunger, assisting with basic daily needs and assisting families to regain housing. The ESGVCH also strives to raise community awareness and works collaboratively with other organizations to end hunger and homelessness primarily in the East San Gabriel Valley. ESGVCH believes that all are called to turn attention beyond themselves and to assist those who suffer; especially the poor, the hungry and the homeless. All those we serve live below the federal poverty level. Winter Shelter Since 1995, ESGVCH has provided night time shelter for persons with nowhere to go. From December 1st to March 1st, the program operates with six churches who donate their facilities and provide volunteers who minister to the needs of our guests. Up to 220 guests are admitted each night. Last year 1032 unduplicated men and women attended the shelter with a total of 15,200 bed-nights (occupied beds) during the 91 day period. Services provided include meals, showers, clothing, medical and dental care, case management and referrals to other agencies who can provide additional needed services. Transportation is provided nightly at six pick-up and drop-off spots in the East San Gabriel Valley. The following morning our guests are returned to the 6 pickup spots from where they were transported the night before. Bridge Program ESGVCH provides emergency and transitional housing for families with minor children. Each family is case managed with the goal of obtaining permanent housing. This program is limited and available only when sufficient funding is received. Emergency Assistance Center (EAC) The Emergency assistance center is offered on a walk- in basis, and includes meals, showers, hygiene products, transportation assistance and referral services. A designated number of motel vouchers are available each month for families, elderly and those who are ill or disabled. It is located at 1345 Turnbull Canyon Road, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745, Phone 626-333-7204; hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Numbers have been steadily increasing. Last month the numbers were 176 unduplicated client visits, 597 duplicated client visits, with a total of 773 client visits. Encore Program Provides group counseling and individual therapy for addiction recovery. After the successful completion of these programs, clients are transitioned into clean and sober living homes. Interfaith Homeless Memorial Service The East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless brought faith leaders from across the region together Wednesday, Oct 26 to pay tribute to the 561 homeless people who died in the county from November, 2015 through September, 2016. “We wanted to give them the love and recognition they deserve.” Representatives from Temple Sholom of Ontario, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, the San Gabriel Valley Islamic Center, the His Lai Temple and the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles spoke in remembrance of those homeless and to urge attendees to help in any way they can. St. Teresa of Avila said, “God has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.” As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Contact Us. East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless Mailing Address: P.O. Box 93256, City of Industry, CA 91715, 1345 Turnbull Canyon Rd., Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 Website: WWW.ESGVCH.ORG Phone: 626-333-7204 Email: esgvch@aol.com All Donations Are Tax Deductible By Joan Schmidt Recently something very wonderful happened at Pamela Park. There was a Memorial dedicated to the late John Nicoloro; there was an impressive rock, with a memorial inscription on it and beautiful plantings. John served on the Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council for eleven years. A modest man, none of us realized he had a scholarship to Harvard where he received his education. He read all the time and was the source of knowledge on many topics. His purpose was to improve the Monrovia- Arcadia-Duarte areas and make them a very desirable area to live. Recently a new building was purchased for a new Live Oak Library-John had championed that cause for over 30 years. He was a beloved family man, who left behind wife Lucy of 53 years, and children, Michael, Christine, Johnny and Nancy, their spouses and grandchildren, who were very special to him. They all proudly attended. Besides his family, Field Deputy Brian Mejia, (For Supervisor Antonovich), Captain Chris Nee who was Commander of Temple Station during John’s tenure, Liaison Deputy April Nelson, Probation Officer Kevin Paris, Town Council Members Dave Hall, Terrence Williams and Linda Sells, who was also a personal friend for many years also attended. It was a beautiful, sunny day and many residents and Sheriff’s Deputies came over to honor this special man. I would like to thank John’s family for sharing him with the Community for many years and the beautiful event photos as we were back East and could not attend. Please come by Pamela Park to see the Memorial and learn of all the great programs and events available to the community. We’d like to hear from you! What’s on YOUR Mind? Contact us at: editor@mtnviewsnews.com or www.facebook.com/mountainviewsnews AND Twitter: @mtnviewsnews Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||