With Easter Sunday approaching, homeless shelters and rescue missions across Long Beach are preparing for brunches, lunches and parties.
Christian Outreach in Action
Christian Outreach in Action (COA), a nonprofit organization based in downtown Long Beach on the corner of Linden Avenue and 3rd Street, has been operating in Long Beach for the last 37 years. As a major part of its five core programs, the organization’s main aim is to distribute fresh, hot meals to the homeless every day, as well as provide free hygiene products, clothes and counseling services. The outreach program also aims to provide people with the skills that are necessary to reintegrate into society and become self-sufficent.
“We [are] nondenominational,” said Dixie Dohrmann, the executive director of COA. “We’re not a church, we’re people who just want to lead by example and offer handouts.”
The organization is entirely free and follows religious principles like kindness, sharing and compassion in its work rather than outwardly promoting religion, Dohrmann said.
“We’re having a children’s Easter party this Saturday and that’s available for anyone that would like to come,” Dohrmann said. “It will be held at COA. We have a traditional Easter meal on the 26th at 11am. We have a donation program, people can go on our website, we take donations and we also accept donations of food of any kind. We take any clothing.”
While many of the volunteer positions for Easter have been filled, Dohrmann explained that the outreach program is always in need of extra hands to volunteer for serving and preparing meals along with a variety of different opportunities.
What makes COA a unique component of Long Beach’s relief centers is the personal attention the staff and volunteers provide to their clients.
“We have many different kinds of services and we’re constantly evolving to meet the needs of what’s out there,” Dohrmann said. “We serve families, men [and] women, and we don’t ask any questions. That’s our main thing. We don’t ask any questions. If you need help we’re here to be there for you.”
Salvation Army
Another organization serving the needy this Easter is the Salvation Army. This nonprofit aims to feed and assist homeless individuals, families and veterans. It provides food for the needy through Food Finders and other donations. They also embody Christian values, such as sharing and compassion. The organization also adheres to its original motto of the three S’s: soup, soap and salvation. Every month the staff and volunteers provide hygiene kits and food baskets to those on the streets, as well as offering religious services at Cherry Avenue and Lincoln Park.
“We want to embody the original values of the army and show people out there that we do care,” said Joel Garcia, who leads the 217-group of volunteers to take food and other supplies to the homeless. “We are kind of going back to the traditional, old-school way of doing things by really getting out there and showing people what we have to offer.”
While the Salvation Army is not hosting any special events for the Easter holiday, it will be holding an Easter service for those who choose to attend.
Long Beach Rescue Mission
A third local organization that is helping the needy this Easter is the Long Beach Rescue Mission, also located downtown on Pacific Avenue. The mission, founded in 1972 by Wayne and Janet Teuerle, helps counsel and rehabilitate the homeless so that they have the necessary skills and personal tools to be able to succeed in society and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Long Beach Rescue Mission is unique to Long Beach because it is primarily ran by donations.
“First and foremost it’s a faith-based, Christ-centered organization,” said Robert Probst, the executive director of the mission. “It’s ran by all the love that people have in their hearts to want to donate to the mission so that we may be able to run an organization that helps lost, broken and hurting people in our community.”
The mission has two separate houses for men and women. The Lydia House, for women and children, is located across the street from the men’s. Probst said that the separation of the men and women allow people to focus on themselves and better themselves without and worries or distractions.
“It’s all based on donations!so we can provide food, shelter and long and short-term life recovery programs,” Probst said.
For Easter Sunday, the mission will be serving an Easter meal from 11am to 2pm. Staff and volunteers are planning on feeding 1,200 people, as well as giving out Easter baskets to all children that are able to attend.
Again, there are very few remaining volunteer positions left for the Easter celebration as they are running out quickly. However, volunteer opportunities are needed and available throughout the year, Probst said.
For more information about these nonprofits, visit their websites at coalongbeach.org, longbeachrescuemission.org, or salvationarmyusa.org, respectively.
