When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, the low-income, highly immigrant area of central Los Angeles would be one of the hardest hit parts of the city. Families already living far below the federal poverty guideline in the neighborhoods of MacArthur Park, Koreatown, Pico-Union, and East Hollywood, began to lose hours at work or were laid off from their jobs, leaving them wondering how to put food on the table and pay their rent and utility bills. And then in conjunction with the area’s population density, some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections and death in the county were seen.
Responding to this wave of need, the Bresee Foundation, a nonprofit serving the central Los Angeles area for nearly 40 years, would transform its 15,000 square foot community center located near 3rd & Vermont, into an emergency command center to meet the basic needs of families in the community. Over the next nine months, Bresee’s 50-person staff mobilized to disburse over $6 million dollars in direct financial support to nearly 7,000 clients via food distribution, emergency financial assistance, and educational support.
Leslie Roman, a freshman at UCLA, and one of Bresee’s 51 scholarship recipients last year, describing the impact of the services on her family stated, “I am from El Salvador and came to the U.S. when I was 10 years old. My parents both had a stable job until COVID-19 hit. My stepfather lost his job and was unable to secure one for at least six months. This past month both of my parents tested positive for COVID-19 and being unable to work, I had to step in and provide for our needs. Bresee staff were so generous to not only ask me what was going on but provided the funds needed to pay for three months of rent. When my mother received the money, she started crying in appreciation. Thanks to Bresee not only was I awarded a scholarship, but they also provided me with a mentor. My mentor has helped give me tips on the best way to get through COVID-19 and is there whenever I need support academically. With Bresee’s support I am here today working on my Bachelor of Science degree to later find a job in which I could give back to the community.”
As the lead Family Source Center (FSC) for the Wilshire area, a network of 16 non-profits located in LA’s most underserved areas, Bresee would partner with the Mayor’s office and its philanthropic partners to provide vital services to thousands of families like Leslie’s. In fact, the agency would go on to offer $200,000 in food security and over $5.7 million in emergency financial assistance, while distributing over 600 laptops to neighborhood youth, supporting over 250 young people with virtual tutoring and counseling, and providing over $80,000 in college scholarships.
Looking forward to 2021, Bresee’s Executive Director, Seth Eklund, who has been with the Foundation since 1996, stated, “While we plan on continuing to meet our community’s basic needs with food and emergency financial assistance, we are also looking at how we can best help our youth and families get back on their feet financially.” According to Eklund, Bresee will expand its services by providing eviction defense, immigration consultation, financial coaching, as well as work in conjunction with the city of LA’s Emergency Renters Assistance Program (ERAP) through the end of the year.
Alexis Galdamez, another of the agency’s scholarship recipients, whose family has benefited from daily Grab’n’Go meals from the front of Bresee’s Community Center, as well as rental assistance, summed up his thoughts on the Foundation’s future, stating, “My wish is that Bresee grows to help more people and their future because thanks to Bresee, people can find new doors and pathways to success.”
Learn more at bresee.org.
