By Miriam Hernandez

Something touching happened recently at the Salesian Family Youth Center. Last week I received a call from our pastor, Fr. Jim Nieblas, SDB. One of the students, who attends confirmation classes, had been away for about three weeks. Fr. Jimmy wanted to know where this student lived so perhaps we could offer him to carpool to class. When I looked into it, I found out that his mom had been sick and in the hospital. To support them during this tough time, we decided to give the family a gift card that had been provided by the Damas Salesianas in Bellflower. 

Damas Salesianas is known for helping the community, and this story is a good example. The gift cards weren’t just about money. They showed that the community cared about this family going through a hard time. These gift cards were meant to be passed out for Thanksgiving however we were unable to distribute them sooner and decided to wait for Christmas. 

In tough situations, the Salesian Family Youth Center wants to be there for people. Thanks to the generosity of those who donated we can also help with practical needs. The gift cards helped ten families with groceries this season. 

This gesture from the Damas Salesianas isn’t just about doing something nice; it’s about showing that they care about the whole person, not just their spiritual side. I hope that through this story we are reminded about how important it is to be kind and support each other. 

I believe this is a great example of how members of the Salesian Family, like Damas Salesianas, can make a real difference by supporting those who need it and sticking to Don Bosco’s mission of love, unity, and service.