SELFLESS RESIDENTS FIGHT HOMELESSNESS ON ALL FRONTS VOLUNTEERS AND COUNSELORS WORK AGAINST VALLEY HOMELESSNESS IN WAYS AS INDIVIDUAL AS THEY ARE MOM GIVES HER TIME TO REACH OUT.

Byline: Stories and photos by Jason Kandel Valley News Writer

Lydia Nassoura is fulfilling an altruistic need to help others.

Three or four days a week, she volunteers at the Guadalupe Community Center, a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles that helps develop social services and community programs for people who have hit rock bottom or are close to being there.

She and her fellow volunteers help people build job skills and self esteem.

The center helps about 17,000 people each year with emergency food and clothing. It also offers classes, tutoring, sports and recreation, preschool and a holiday program.

It's been a long road to the center for Nassoura, who arrived in the United States after being raised in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, by a stay-at-home mom and a father who managed an import/export business. In 1989, she left her homeland and settled in the United States before coming to Los Angeles in 1997. She and her husband, a vascular surgeon, have two daughters.

In 1998, she started volunteering at the center once a week after responding to an ad in a church bulletin. In 2000, she took charge of the food pantry and the thrift store, and she began managing the volunteers.

She helps dole out groceries to about 300 families -- up to 90 percent are Latino -- every month at the center, said Margaret Pontius, center director for Catholic Charities of Los Angeles. The staples are the nonperishable items, such as rice, beans, pasta, macaroni and cheese, canned food, vegetables, fruits, tuna and beef -- all donated by local churches.

``We've been lucky for the last couple of years,'' she said. ``Now, we're almost empty because we need to order.''

She also offers the homeless items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, a toothbrush and clothes. Bread is offered every day. Local supermarkets donate sweets.

``Anybody can walk in and get bread any day,'' she said.

At the thrift store, people can get clothes and other items ranging from 25 cents to $3.

Nassoura loves what she does.

``I like helping people,'' she said. ``This is the way I am. The look on their faces ... I don't know how to explain it. I'm having chills. It's a beautiful place to be.''

Katie Latimer, 56, who has been volunteering at the center for four years, said Nassoura approaches her volunteering with humility and dedication.

``She's so educated, and she could be making big bucks out in the community and bringing home money to the family, but she dedicates her time for free to us,'' Latimer said. ``I have made a lifelong friend. I respect her. I can't tell you how much she is respected and loved.''

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(color) As a volunteer, Lydia Nassoura is a staple at the Guadalupe Community Center in Canoga Park, helping those in need of food, clothing and a helping hand.