Friend of CHOA,
We are close to meeting again, in-person. Come join us, see the team, hear about the new efforts, and updates on the on-going efforts, for housing, in Arcadia. Here are the 3 things for you at this time:
1) Come join us next Saturday, April 20th, from 9:30am to 11:30am. 2 hours of packed housing info on housing in Arcadia. We focus this session on the new Safe Parking Program in Arcadia. We are meeting at the Hills Church. Read more below.
2) The Hills Church’s Free Food Program: They distribute free food on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, from 9am to noon. That’s today!! We provide more details below. Go and see what they are up to…and tell a friend!
3) Pray. There are so much efforts in play, on housing in Arcadia. We will ask you to pray now, and again in May. Pray for these items you are reading about, the folks moving this forward, and for partnership to develop…between churches…between the city…and neighbors. We are taking steps of faith, and we need to ask God to move hearts and open doors.
Peace,
–Mike Veerman
CHOA Team Lead
Yes…7 days to the Sharing Session on Sat., April 20th
We are gathering in the Fellowship Hall at the Hills Church (805 North 1st Avenue, Arcadia 91006). The church campus map is above, showing you where to park, and how to get to the Fellowship Hall (see orange arrow). We will also have signs around the campus to guide you.
As mentioned, we are excited to focus on the new Safe Parking Program in Arcadia. CHOA will explain what the Safe Parking Program is, and how we envision it to work here in Arcadia. Speakers will explain how Safe Parking has worked in Pasadena for 2 years, and what each partner in Arcadia will do. We are grateful to have the following to come share with all of us:
- Tashera Taylor, CEO of Foothill Unity Center
- Pastor Sharon Richter from Trinity Lutheran in Pasadena (2 years hosting Safe Parking). Pastor Sharon will not be able to attend personally — she has to be at a key funeral at her church — but she created a video for us to hear her insights.
- One or 2 Parkers who both have been housed through the Safe Parking Program in Pasadena.
Again, Mayor April Verlato will join us, and share her perspectives. City Councilmember Eileen Wang’s will join us at our Sharing Session for the first time; so glad to have her with us. It is key for CHOA and the faith community to have a good working relationship with our elected officials.
We will of course give you an update on the Housing Element. First, Rezoning was voted unanimously back in February, to allow more housing and affordable housing to come to Arcadia. We will explain the upcoming Inclusionary Ordinance matter coming before City Council for a vote in a few months; this determines the percentage of affordable housing units in each new development.
See the below flier. Fliers can also be found using the link below.
Join us and learn what is happening on housing in Arcadia. Bring a friend!!
CHOA Sharing Session flier for April 20th
If you haven’t already, RSVP with the link below. See you on April 20th!!
RSVP for April 20th
The Hills Church’s Free Food Distribution
Yes, the same church where we are meeting next week –Hills Church (805 North 1st Avenue, Arcadia 91006) — also has a free food distribution. They have their distributions on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. They start from 9am to noon. You can visit them today!!
They are in their second year, and continue to expand what they can provided. Stop by to see how many people they are helping. About 200 come, and those are families…so estimated 400 folks are served. They get their foods from Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, the LA Food Bank, and other places. They have dry food, fresh produce, and meat.
Steven and Eileen Casey provide the leadership, energy, and perseverance. The first picture below is of them, in the former pastor’s office, now turned into a food storage, which also has large refrigerators and freezers. They are a non-profit now, and have another distribution on the 1st and 3rd Fridays in Monrovia. Their website link is below. You can also find information on their Facebook page, “House of Food and Prayer.”
https://www.mannacs.org
I don’t often feel the overwhelming abundance of God’s provision, but I feel this way every time I visit Hills Church. I highly recommend you stop by. And share this with others, both who need food assistance, and also to help volunteer. They can use more help, on Saturday’s distribution, as well as picking up the food.
Below is what they are providing today:
1. Green beans
2. Chocolate milk
3. Jalapenos
4. Smart water
5. Cinnamon sugar Briscoes
6. Harvest snaps
7. Chips (miscellaneous)
8. Blueberry pies
9. Chamoy Armor Salsa
10. Cream sandwiches
11. Bread
12. Variety of meats
13. Apples
14. Brussel sprouts
15. Sweet potatoes
