Arlene Jackson Honored at 78th Birthday Celebration for a Lifetime of Helping Others

A lifetime dedicated to helping others was celebrated recently when Arlene Jackson, founder of Restoring Hope Community Services, was honored during her 78th birthday celebration at the Golden Era Golf Course.

Perris Mayor Vargas recognized Jackson for her continuing commitment to helping veterans and others in need through her nonprofit organization, Restoring Hope Community Services (RHCS). The Mayor also recognized the many individuals who have supported Jackson and her efforts over the years.

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For Jackson, helping people is not simply something she began later in life. It is something that has been part of who she is since childhood.

Jackson recalls that when she was just three years old, she would accompany her grandmother as she prepared and provided food for people who were struggling and in need. That early experience left a lasting impression on her.

Since then, Jackson has never stopped helping others.

In 2006, she established Restoring Hope Community Services, a faith-based nonprofit organization whose mission includes providing housing and supportive services to homeless individuals, with a particular focus on veterans.

Over the years, Jackson has witnessed veterans struggling with homelessness, including people sleeping in parks and asking for money. Those experiences inspired her to pursue a long-held dream of creating a place where homeless veterans could find not only food and shelter, but also an opportunity for a fresh start.

The organization's vision includes establishing a community living facility for homeless veterans where residents could receive room and board and supportive services while working toward independence and self-sufficiency. The initial planned facility would accommodate up to six men for stays of up to 24 months, with support services and programs provided through the Loma Linda Veterans Administration.

Although veterans remain a primary focus, Restoring Hope Community Services has sought to assist homeless individuals more broadly, including women, families and others facing difficult circumstances.

The organization's outreach has included providing food, clothing and other necessities to people in need. Jackson and RHCS have also worked with community members and organizations to bring attention to the needs of homeless veterans and others who may otherwise go without basic necessities.

Jackson's dedication has earned recognition beyond her own community. She has been featured in newspaper articles, interviewed about her work and appeared on Veterans Outlook, where she has discussed the continuing efforts of Restoring Hope Community Services to reach homeless veterans.

She has also been recognized for her commitment to community service and was among those honored by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women for "Community Excellence."

Yet despite the recognition she has received throughout the years, Jackson continues to focus on the people she is trying to help.

Her story is ultimately one of perseverance and compassion — beginning with a three-year-old girl watching her grandmother feed people in need and continuing more than seven decades later with a woman still working to restore hope to those who need it most.

At her 78th birthday celebration, the recognition from Mayor Vargas was not only a celebration of another year of life, but a tribute to a lifetime of service.

And for Jackson, the work continues.

Restoring Hope Community Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2006. Its mission is to provide housing, food and supportive services to homeless individuals and families, with a special focus on veterans.

Those interested in learning more about Restoring Hope Community Services, volunteering or supporting its efforts can contact the organization at 951-990-2519.