The store manager Mr. William Lawson, joined the Helping Hands Fan Club by donating a cart full of box fans to Helping Hands for distribution to local low-income seniors that do not have air-conditioning in their homes.  This is such a blessing at a time when a little comfort is so needed.  Thank you Home Depot and thank you William.

It’s hot for our Neighbors. We Need Your Help! Join our Fan Club and donate a fan ASAP! Temperatures will remain in the high 90’s and low 100’s for the forseeable future. Many low income seniors do not live in well ventilated spaces and need additional airflow. Drop off locations below:

Canyon Lake Community Church
30515 Railroad Canyon Rd, Canyon Lake, CA 92587

Pack Wrap and Post
31566 Railroad Canyon Rd # 2, Canyon Lake, CA 92587

July’s Volunteer of the month is Dexter Pierson (center), seen here with Larry Evans (left) and Robert Sasser (right). Dexter has been putting in countless hours of work to help us feed our neighbors in Need.

It’s time to pack groceries for our Neighbors in Need.  We will meet at 31877 Corydon in Lake Elsinore at 8:00 am to renew friendships developed over the past few years and to pack groceries.  It also time to serve our Lord and provide assistance to disabled seniors.

Pictured below is the new mobile pantry provided by the Helping Hands volunteers.  Larry Evans, the Vice President of Helping Hands says, “This trailer is a blessing that will enable Helping Hands the ability to launch a new program that is directed at eliminating “Food Insecurity” in the communities we serve”.  That program, “Senior Care” has volunteers seeking out seniors in need of food or other assistance and providing it. The Helping Hands Board of Directors and its more than 300 volunteers are excited to begin the program.  Stay tuned for progress over the summer.

From the California Association of Food Banks:

California losing one-third of meals in food safety net when Pandemic-related food-aid ends.

On March 26, CalFresh recipients received their last Emergency Allotment, which had provided a critical boost to their benefits throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The end of these Emergency Allotments means a $500 million cut to food assistance statewide — each month. Many households, including single older adults, are beginning to face the unbelievable cliff from $281 a month to just $23, the current minimum benefit allotment.

The Emergency Allotments’ abrupt end, combined with the skyrocketing cost of food, has caused a dramatic and unprecedented benefits cliff.

Additionally, Pandemic EBT benefits — which provide funds for low income families to buy groceries for 4.2 million children —  is ending after this summer. We are grateful for the newly authorized Summer EBT program for families that will begin in 2024, as announced in December, but it will not offset the huge gap caused by the end of CalFresh Emergency Allotments and P-EBT. Food banks alone will not be able to make up for the nearly 3.1 billion meals that will be lost within California’s food safety net, and we are urging Congress and California leaders to take critical action.