Homelessness and poverty has hit an all-time high for thousands of children, families, veterans, and seniors in California and the recession has left waves of panic and despair in the lives of residents. In addition to the soaring homeless rate, poverty is a major concern and a growing epidemic for families.
According to www.NewAmericaMedia,org, a growing number of children don’t eat at all when they go home because 17 percent of children in Riverside County live in poverty. Dedicated to helping underprivileged children, families and veterans live prosperous and empowered lives, former police officer, Lorenzo Thomas, and his family founded Glimmers of Hope Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Beaumont, CA. According to Charla Mackey, the president of Glimmers of Hope Inc., “My family founded Glimmers of Hope in 2007 with our own funds as well as donations from friends because we wanted to provide more opportunities for people in our communities whose lives were torn apart by home foreclosures, homelessness, and unemployment.
Since our inception, we have volunteered and donated toys, clothing, food and other necessities to numerous organizations, schools, churches, and businesses throughout the Inland Empire including St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Holiday Wish Foundation, World Visions, Christ the Resurrected Church, Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veteran’s Medical Center, Nicolet Middle School, Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Victorious Living Institute, and New Hope Sober Living Homes.
We also operate our own Christmas drive to support families in need in our community and provide care packages for U.S. troops, but we want to help more economically disadvantaged people become self-sufficient and remain financially stable throughout the year. One of our biggest goals for next year is to create a resource center to help people find career opportunities (not just minimum wage, part-time jobs) and qualify for higher paying positions. We recently launched a Go Fund Me campaign in order to help make this dream a reality.
Our resource center will allow us to offer many services to Inland Empire residents, including a basic life skills course, basic computer classes as well as job training classes that will teach people the secrets to writing effective resumes and cover letters that will get the immediate attention of HR managers. We will also teach them about the importance of using the right keywords in resumes, and how to communicate like a pro to land the career of their dreams.
We will also have a clothing closet for job seekers who cannot afford to buy professional business attire for interviews so that they can look and feel their best. Our overall mission is to help underserved communities in the Inland Empire become financially independent-especially parents and veterans, so that they can be successful and contribute their unique skills and talents to make the Inland Empire a better place to live. Although there are shelters and temporary help for people in need, we want to help people help themselves which will ultimately decrease homelessness and poverty rates in our communities,” says Mackey.
To make a donation to Glimmers of Hope’s Go Fund Me campaign, click here: www.gofundme.com
For more information about Glimmers of Hope Inc., visit www.Glimmersofhopeinc.org.
