A coalition of seven faith communities in Manteca continues to put action behind their words.
The Manteca Interfaith Community Appeal (MICA) on Wednesday presented $5,650 worth of gift cards as well as numerous bags of new T-shirts to the Manteca Unified School District effort to assist homeless students.
The gift cards are used by district personnel to meet needs they can’t with what resources they have to secure things such as personnel hygiene items, school supplies, and clothes for homeless students. There have been 307 students identified as homeless already this school year after four days of instruction.
Lynda Donelson, who serves as the MUSD homeless liaison, noted items such as donated backpacks have been plentiful so far making hygiene products and clothes more critical items as the school year unfolds.
The girt cards are for Target, Walmart, Costco and Burlington. Burlington donated another 10 percent to match what faith groups that are part of MICA purchased.
MICA includes Transformed Through Hope Ministries, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, St. Anthony’s Padua Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist, Manteca Baha’i Faith, and The Islamic Center of Manteca.
This is the fourth year for the MICA effort to assist homeless students in the Manteca Unified School District.
MICA this summer staged the annual Evening of Respect that brought together people of various faiths.
The organization is preparing for the fourth Manteca observance of United Nations Peace Day on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at the quad area of the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.
The MICA mission statement notes the organization “endeavors to bring together people of various faiths, beliefs, and traditions around common goals of service, education, and peace for all people.”
We achieve this by acting with respect, appreciating our diversity, and responding in solidarity with those most in need, while promoting these values in our community from generation to generation, one activity at a time.”
For more information about MICA or to assist in their endeavors, contact St. Paul’s Methodist Pastor Jason Thornton at (209) 823-7154.
To help MUSD assist homeless students, contact Donelson at ldonelson@musd.net or call (209) 825-3200, extension 50834.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
