CENTER'S PLAIN WALLS SHELTER GOOD WORK.Byline: Chris Branam Daily News Staff Writer Set back from the street, the building is hardly noticeable between the sheet metal business and the concrete factory. El Centro El Centro (ĕl sĕn`trō), city (1990 pop. 31,384), seat of Imperial co., SE Calif., near the Mexican border; inc. 1908. It is a processing and shipping center for a heavily irrigated agricultural region (vegetables, grain, cotton, de Amistad advertises itself to traffic on Deering Avenue with a single sign. Crystal Crandall, an administrative assistant, admits that the company's main office - which has been transformed from an old warehouse - isn't very glamorous. ``It's what we do inside that makes it a beautiful place,'' she said. This is the busiest time of year for charities, and it is no different at El Centro de Amistad. From Dec. 20-22, El Centro de Amistad - which is Spanish for Center of Friendship - plans to distribute food and gift baskets A gift basket, or fruit basket is typically a gift that is delivered to the recipient at their home or workplace. There are different varieties of gift baskets, some which have fruit only, some with dry/canned goods only (such as tea, crackers and jam) although the standard to 300 needy families. The giveaway is a tangible example of El Centro de Amistad's mission as a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. , but it is hardly the most important service it performs for the public. Throughout the year, the center provides an array of programs, including family counseling, youth tutoring, emergency food, graffiti removal, English-language and citizenship classes, immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. assistance and crisis intervention crisis intervention Psychiatry The counseling of a person suffering from a stressful life event–eg, AIDS, cancer, death, divorce, by providing mental and moral support. See Hotline. . El Centro de Amistad is among the nonprofit charities participating in the Daily News' ninth annual Season of Sharing campaign. Readers can contribute directly to the charity, allowing it to help people during the holidays and throughout the year. The Daily News does not receive any of the money. Since 1990, Season of Sharing has generated $217,000 in cash, and thousands more in services and merchandise from readers who wanted to help their less-fortunate neighbors. Some of El Centro de Amistad's clients come in under court order, but many others are residents of the community, Crandall said. In order to receive assistance, the agency requires identification, two forms of address and proof of income, although agency officials also accept the word of their clients. Schools also refer students to El Centro de Amistad. Crandall spends three hours each weekday with kids age 6-17, who get a chance to finish their homework, do arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. or work in the computer lab. El Centro de Amistad also provides families with food and clothing, which are donated by local residents and businesses. One section of the headquarters is set aside for racks of clothes and loaves loaves n. Plural of loaf1. loaves Noun the plural of loaf1 loaves loaf of bread. Contributions always pick up during the holidays, and while the agency respects donors' expressions of good will, officials ask that donated items be in good condition. ``I'm not going to take something that's falling apart that is unsafe for a child,'' Crandall said. Thirty-two people work for El Centro de Amistad, which in addition to the main office in Canoga Park has satellite sites in San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. , Van Nuys and Winnetka. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion