People ask me why I do this at my age when I have retired several times. At age 73 I should be enjoying my grandchildren, traveling, and making quilts.!!

No, I'm trying to save the world---at least Banning California by assuming the lead of a non-profit organization serving the low-income and the homeless. I do it because it needs to be done!!

It is not easy to engage with the homeless, but FIA is doing it on a regular basis. We see up to 10 people who come by our office each day to ask for water, food, or assistance. They also pick up mail from us and charge their phones. We treat them with dignity and respect. We try to give some hope or at least resources for their situation. There have been times we have housed folks in hotel rooms, or have taken them to SS office in Hemet.

All this takes money.....Our grant funding has slowed down.....the fundraising efforts by the board are minimal, so here I am trying a Go Fund Me account

Update to the original story about Ed---FIA has made several attempts to assist Ed and he recently received his birth certificate through our efforts. Although he is a Vet, he disdains any government program and refuses to engage with any VA benefits. Sometimes the info people provide to us is incorrect, or only partial.

Ed continues to ask for food, and clothing, and he is on his 6th tent!! They keep getting stolen!

I met Ed about 4 months ago. He was hunched over waiting in a food line during the pandemic.  When I approached him he told me he was in extreme pain. I told him to sit down and I would bring food to him. Over the next several weeks, Ed told me he was a Vet and was living down by the railroad tracks. He had been diagnosed with cancer and only had a few weeks to live. I could not understand why someone was going to die near the railroad tracks when there were many resources that could possibly be available to him. I started to explore some of the resources, and discovered that access was multifaceted and a deterrent to most folks. And resources in the Banning Beaumont area were scarce!!!!

Faith in Action is raising funds to support the establishment of a center where people who have been impacted by the pandemic can get the assistance they need. We will start small with enrolling families and individuals into the WIC and CalFresh program and slowly add other services such as employment preparation, computer access, and housing resources. Transportation to County resources is minimal, and often not used because of needed advance planning.

 We recognize that low income and homeless people may not have the needed resources or knowledge to improve their economic status. Forms and paperwork can be daunting, computer sites foreign to many. Even making a phone call elicits fear in some people.

Faith in Action is a small group with BIG plans in the Banning Beaumont Area. We are not affiliated with any church, but believe in the power of collective impact to change the lives of people. Join us by making a donation to get it done!!!!