Homeless commission reaffirms commitment
LANCASTER — The Lancaster Homeless Impact Commission met Thursday morning at Grace Resource Center for its monthly meeting.
“Part of the commission’s goals has been to get out into the community and work alongside the service providers,” said Toi Chisom, director of Administrative and Community Services for the City of Lancaster. “And during the holiday season there was no time better to do it than now.”
Commissioner Lt. Hector Acosta of The Salvation Army was the only commissioner present. The other four members were either sick or busy with other commitments.
Acosta announced that beginning Sunday and continuing through Jan. 2, the winter shelter at Avenue I and 60th Street West operated by The Salvation Army, will be open 24 hours a day.
“If you know someone who just needs a warm place to sleep, you can direct them to us,” Acosta said.
Lancaster resident David Paul, who regularly attends the various commission and City Council meetings, volunteered alongside Acosta, Chisom, and other city staff members for Grace Resource Center’s food pantry distribution.
“We can always count on David,” said Chisom, who also had a cold. “This is my second time doing this. It absolutely pulls at the heartstrings.”
The majority of the people served have homes but are struggling to make ends meet. Volunteers distributed bags of food to families and individuals with the ability to cook. A few other bags had “pop top” items that do not necessarily have to be cooked.
“We probably have 50 bags out here now,” said Matthew Buck,
director of Food and Volunteer Services for Grace Resources. “We’ll probably give away most of these here at 10 o’clock. We’re going to do this again at 1 o’clock and probably do another 50.”
Paul usually watches Commission meetings from the audience. He did not hesitate to volunteer alongside the others.
“To support all these great efforts we make and to lend a hand,” Paul said.
Grace Resource Center, at 45134 Sierra Highway, offers the food pantry at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is also a Spanish language food pantry at 10 a.m. Wednesdays.
“Our schedule will be a little different for the end of the year because we will be closed next week. Other than the holiday it’s all the time,” Buck said.
Lancaster resident Jaron Terrell Byous picked up a bag of groceries to take home.
“It means a lot because there are families that don’t have money; they don’t have the well-being to go get their own,” Byous said. “By them having this program here and letting us come to get food, they’ve got clothes. They’ve got a lot of stuff going on. … So it helps the community a lot.”
Grace Resource Center will serve its annual Christmas dinner at noon on Wednesday.