Hosted at Christ Temple Church of Christ, the biannual event continues to help the unsheltered, homeless and the less fortunate.
Restoration Community Development Corporation (RCDC) recently held one of their Day of Dignity events at Christ Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) USA. May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the event serves as an all-in-one for the unhoused and homeless.
“We partner with Christ Temple to bring a Day of Dignity to the community,” said Bernice Noflin, founder and executive director of RCDC. “Our goal is to serve members of our community that are experiencing homelessness or in need.”
“This is our biannual event that happens twice a year, which is our largest public facing event that we have to help the unsheltered, the homeless, those that are in need of assistance, ancillary services from expungements to healthcare, all the way to job workforce development training,” said Daniel Ferguson, pastor of Christ Temple.
At Day of Dignity, attendees found clothing, information, food and services brought by sponsors, partners and Christ Temple members. They spoke to the Sentinel about the importance of the day and being a part of it.
“The day of love is all I can say,” said Shawn Davis, executive director of Omnipresent Families Motivating Prosperity incorporated (OFMP) about Day of Dignity.
“When I say this love that [Bernice Noflin] has for people. We really didn’t feel like we’re going to get this much donation and nothing but God, that’s all I can really say.”
Davis shared how supplies came right on time offering the resources many come to rely on at Day of Dignity. Davis also shared more about OFMP and how their mission statement combines perfectly with RCDC’s event.
“We do whatever it takes to connect the community, whether it’s advocating for housing, food, shelter, necessities—the education,” said Davis. “We’re called upon community leaders; we’re called upon to just speak to the needs of the community.”
“It’s an outreach for mental health for the homeless and the unsheltered,” said Mary Bingham clothing supervisor for the outreach program for Christ Temple.
“We provide services and clothing, shoes whatever they need even hygiene items and so, people are able to come through and grab things that they may need.”
Bingham continued, “This is an awesome opportunity to serve the community, I tell you. It’s a good feeling to give back to the people, try to surround them with love in certain ways.”
Besides clothing resources and food, Day of Dignity also offers mobile showers, medical assistance and art.
“Art is beneficial and it is therapeutic,” said Noflin. “We’re just trying to come together to assist each other.”
“I feel as if we as a local Christian church are doing what we have been called and commissioned to do and that’s to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ,” said Ferguson. “We want to make sure that folks have their physical and spiritual needs are part and parcel to the mission of the church.”
“It’s an amazing feeling to do this,” Edmond Hamilton, Jr., trustee chairman at Christ Temple. “We go out to the streets and we outreach and connect with the homeless and we bring them in.
Hamilton continued, “When you go out and connect with the people that’s on the street, that’s just a whole different feeling because these people really need your help.
“I’m just blessed to be in a position to be able to help people and for the church.”
Day of Dignity sponsors included Avalon L.A., City Care Clinic, Christ Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) USA, Here to Help Foundation, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, National University, New Testament Church of Christ, Nobility Health, OFMP, Inc. and The Amaad Institute.
For more information on Restoration Community Development Corporation, visit www.restorationcdcla.org and www.iseeula.org
For more information on Christ Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) USA, visit www.christtemplela.org
