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JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live"
It is our goal to introduce Tender Care Community Outreach Program to as many community members as possible. This is a program that can be initiated anywhere in the world -- all it takes is the desire of few to help those in need! TCCOP operates under Anekant Community Center (ACC), a 501(c) 3 non-Profit Corporation in Southern California. This program is not limited to any particular ethnic group or religious organization. All services and inquires are handled with utmost confidentiality, respect and dignity. It is available to all.
Since the launch of the organization, the TCCOP has organized a network of volunteers to provide support, assistance, education, and referral services for people facing tremendous challenges. The services provided by the group are funded by and operated through both the monetary donations and volunteers' time. The TCCOP has branched out to offer the community with seven key services:
1. Community Pantry - Currently we provide basic Indian groceries such as rice, dal, flour, loose tea etc. to families in need. Grants and other donations from the community enable us to feed low-income families, children and seniors in our community.
2. Community Assistance - Every other Thursday, we serve breakfast to about 100 economically disadvantaged individuals. We also provide dinner for over 250 homeless one Sunday every other month. We are also available to help with various other needs in the community, such as burial expense assistance, school supplies, etc.
3. Elderly Assistance - Currently several volunteers are available to provide a few hours of companionship, or a shoulder to lean on for sick patients, the elderly, or their family.
4. Job Club - We assist community members in their search for jobs. Assistance includes job seminars, resume reviews and referrals to local businesses. We also provide information regarding local job fairs and other online tools for job seekers.
5. Referral Services - In many cases individuals are not still aware of the various community services available to them. Through our continued efforts to serve the community, we have built relationships with other community organizations as well as certain government agencies; this in turn, allows our volunteers to help find appropriate information to provide assistance to those in need.
6. Kids Club - We believe the future of our community depends on the youth. With that said, we have organized a team of adult and child volunteers to encourage our youngest community members to help the needy by preparing get-well cards, conducting toy, food, school supplies and professional clothing drives. HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?
7. Seva- Project - Seva, which means selfless community service, is the most broad based program of the TCCOP. We collect and distribute school supplies, hygiene kits, blankets, etc. to needy kids, schools, and homeless shelters. We have also raised funds for the earthquake disasters of 2010 (Samoa Island and Haiti) and sent tents and sleeping bags to them.
We are successful in running all these activities because of the help and support of volunteers and contributions from our community. We would like to reach out to as many more community members as we can, so please help us get the word out.
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