1 week Ago By By ARTURO BOJORQUEZ Editor
EL CENTRO – Rosa Estrada, whom her Sure Helpline coworkers consider the best chef around, woke up early Thursday to cook about 160 burritos filled in with chorizo with eggs, chorizo with potatoes, beans, and eggs. The preparation also included a mildly hot salsa that was served a few hours later to those without a home. “I love cooking,” Estrada said in Spanish.
“I love seeing people eating my food and liking it – that’s my satisfaction.” On Thursday morning, Sure Helpline and its allied agencies provided a meal, DJ music, and resource information to the homeless living in El Centro. The meal also included juice, muffins, cereal treats, and coffee provided with help from Nana’s Kitchen and the Imperial Valley Food Bank.
Several agencies like the LGBT Resource Center, the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, the Imperial County Behavioral Health Services, Innercare, and the Imperial County Public Health Department gave away bags with hand sanitizer, deodorants, soap, wipes, toiletries, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, wash clothes, water, blankets, face masks, and gloves. Beyond those freebies was information about service resources available for housing, medical or dental treatment, relocation, crisis intervention, and several others. Daniel Janda, 39, who said he is unemployed but certainly not homeless heard from a friend on Wednesday about the event and its free food so he decided to give it a try.
While at the Sure Helpline backyard, he realized about the information provided by local agencies. “I was hungry when I heard there was food going on,” Janda said. “I didn’t know it was like a whole deal with dancing and everything.
” Moments before taking a seat to enjoy his meal, Janda – who said Thursday was his second time at the event in the last three years – was given a tote bag full of items. Asked about how he liked the event, Janda said it was helpful. Sure Helpline lead advocate and human resources manager Joanna Ramirez said the nonprofit organization has held the Breakfast for the Homeless event for the last four years by being partners with several agencies including the LGBT Center, Innercare, the Victim Witness Program of the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, Behavioral Health, Public Health, Salvation Army, the Food Bank, and Nana’s Kitchen that provided food, pastries, and drinks for those without a home.
“We’re really grateful for all the support,” Ramirez said of the agencies collaborating in the effort. “It’s great to see the community come together and be a group of support for our homeless population to remind them that they’re not alone, that even though they might be experiencing some difficulties through maybe hardships, economic or housing difficulties, we’re here to provide that resource and to be a support.” In prior events, Sure Helpline has been able to serve somewhere from 50 to 60 homeless – similarly to what was expected Thursday morning.
Ramirez said the homeless living around the downtown area visit the Sure Helpline Main Street office to request food to resources and even ask questions about programs for victims. “I feel very grateful for this event,” Ramirez said, who acknowledged that although the community has a lot of complaints about their tents or for being around buildings, the agency can provide them with services. “Today is a great reminder to them that they are part of the community and that we care for them, we support them, we want the best for them.
And I hope today they’re able to take with them a few resources that can be of help. We’re here to make a difference and help anyone who can.”.
