HomeAid Inland Empire Spearheads Second "Full Bellies, Warm Hearts" Event for Veronica's House of Mercy
For information contact: Carolyn Baker (949) 553-9510 SAN BERNARDINO, CA (October 8, 2010) --- Food, fun and love were the secret to the success of the first "Full Bellies, Warm Hearts" event in April, so HomeAid Inland Empire reached out again to their generous, warm-hearted volunteers and donors to assist with a second event, held September 25th. With lots of support, HomeAid was able to hold two consecutive events on the same day-one at Veronica's Home of Mercy in San Bernardino and the other at the Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Services (FIES). The result was a success, giving the residents of both shelters a day to remember. HomeAid's "Full Bellies, Warm Hearts" brought an abundance of food and fun in a carnival atmosphere to the residents of Veronica's Home of Mercy where approximately 30 volunteers helped out overseeing games, a barbeque lunch and bounce houses. In addition, Picasso Color Studio donated hair cutting and coloring services for more than 20 women and Marinelli's School of Beauty donated the services of their students, providing hair styling prior to free family portrait sessions for all the residents. Photography services were donated by Jim Doyle of Applied Photography. "We do this for two main reasons," said Paul Peck, president of Paul A. Peck & Associates, a Riverside-based civil engineering firm and HomeAid Inland Empire partner. "We want to show the residents of the shelters that the community cares about them. The events also give people in the BIA an opportunity to see the great work that HomeAid does and provides HomeAid supporters and volunteers with a hands-on opportunity to really get involved." Other local volunteers included Anne Viricel, Inland Towing, Stonewood Construction and BIA Riverside "The LOT" (Leaders of Tomorrow). Stater Bros. supermarket chain, who donated all the food in April, joined in once again and donated all the food, from condiments to burgers and buns to dessert. HomeAid is a non-profit organization dedicated to building and renovating shelters for temporarily homeless men, women and children, and was established under the auspices of the Baldy View, Desert, and Riverside Chapters of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (www.homeaidie.org). The concept of HomeAid began in Orange County in 1989 when members of the Building Industry Association established HomeAid as a way to support non-profit agencies serving homeless families and individuals in their community by doing what they do best-building. HomeAid Inland Empire was established in1990 and to date has completed 20 housing developments that serve victims of domestic violence, abused and abandoned children and homeless families. Veronica's Home of Mercy is part of Mary's Mercy Center, a nonprofit home for women and children who find themselves temporarily homeless. HomeAid Inland Empire recently completed construction of Veronica's Home of Mercy II, an 80-bed, 15,000 square foot shelter. The Center provides housing, as well as education and counseling to transition families into self sufficiency. Programs such as GED preparation, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and child development education emphasize growth and wellness for both the mothers and their young children. The original Veronica's Home of Mercy opened in 1995. The event in Fullerton benefited families at Fullerton Interfaith Service's (FIES) and Women's Transitional Living Center (WLTC). FIES is a cooperative organization established in 1975 that provides emergency food, transitional housing and other support services. WTLC is a community-based organization of women and men committed to seeking solutions to end domestic violence and human trafficking. For more information about HomeAid Inland Empire call (951) 686-0628 or go to www.homeaidie.org. # # #
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