Sports
VIDEO: Anglers & Lakewood Doctor Bring Holiday Spirit to Battered Women’s Shelter
With the help of Dr. Gnyandev Patel and other holiday givers, the Angels Step Inn does its part to help abused women and their children escape the cycle of violence this holiday season.
The Holiday Spirit was alive and well in Pico Rivera last Thursday at the Angel Step Inn Youth and Family Services, where more than 100 families gathered for a Christmas party made possible by so many loving and caring people, including Dr. Gnyandev Patel from the Neha Medical Clinic in Lakewood.
A few weeks ago, Dr. Patel held his annual Holiday Party and Toy Drive to collect items for the Angel Step Inn families. Among the stars in attendance were the Laker Girls, Rex Linn from CSI Miami, Adam Kennedy from the Los Angles Dodgers and a host of others with arms full of toys to be donated.
Philip Friedman Outdoors put out an invitation to the fishing community to attend the fundraiser and toy drive, and hundreds of local anglers and outdoorsmen responded in force with gifts in tow.
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“Not only was that a rocking party, but it felt good helping out even if it was just a little,” said Enterprise Captain Frank Savino.
Captain Larry Moore spent hours and days gathering items for a raffle and live auction. The funds raises as a result of Moore’s hard work will be used to take over 300 inner city children fishing with the Philip Friedman Outdoors Youth Program in February.
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Angel Step Inn is a Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter and safe haven for battered women with a history of alcohol or other drug use. Services offered include shelter for victims, a 24-hour hotline with crisis counseling, education for substance addiction, individual support for the women and their children and as the Led Zeppelin song title reads, “A Whole Lot Of Love”.
Program Director Marijke Pantus works tirelessly to make sure these victimized women can escape abusive relationships and seek safety for their children. Her goal and the goal of Angel Step Inn is to educate battered, substance abusing women so that they can learn to rebuild their lives.
The love, joy and the Christmas spirit were palpable at the Angels Step Inn holiday celebration, and it was evident that the women and children there were so grateful and thankful to those who made it such peaceful and wonderful time. And for the volunteers and others who helped make the event possible, they too understood that in giving that we receive so much more than we could ever imagine.
“It restores my faith in human nature that there are still people who willingly dig into their pockets and help other people because they feel it's the right thing to do. These include Dr. Dave Patel, Marijke Pantus who is a is a great lady doing good stuff for people and operating on a shoestring budget. Lastly, Gustavo Camacho, Mayor Pro Tem of Pico Rivera, also dug into his own pocket to buy presents for the mothers of the kids," fisherman Will Ebersman from Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio on AM 830 said.
