Christian Outreach in Action (COA) https://www.coalongbeach.org provides an estimated 130,000 hot meals every year – thanks in part to the oven shown behind COA’s cook in this video. The stove needs to be replaced, and COA is reaching out to the community for help. To donate to the cause, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/New-Stove-....
Cathy, one of two main COA cooks, explains the work of the decade-old oven that we admiringly call Old Faithful. The oven with a grill on top helps prepare about 150 meals per serving – which is twice a day weekdays and Saturdays, plus Sunday-morning breakfasts and a lunch every last Sunday.
“We are looking for something to accommodate that,” Cat says. “A new one is badly needed because we have one hour to create food for 150 people.”
COA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which is based in a church property in downtown Long Beach; but operationally it is nondenominational, with a belief in faith-based teachings that tell us to provide compassionate assistance to those in need.
We are compelled by the need around us to feed people in need, provide spiritual support, help heal the sick ... and to ultimately teach them the skills necessary to reach and sustain self-sufficiency. To do this, COA depends almost entirely on private donations. We have been blessed by the support from the community, in terms of donated food, clothing and other items, as well as sponsorships and corporate assistance.
For the hot meals program, COA employs two part-time cooks and depends on donations of food items from area supermarkets, caterers and private individuals. The cooks prepare the morning breakfasts. For dinner on weekdays, or for lunch Saturdays, one of 30 churches affiliated with COA will arrive and deliver or prepare a meal.
Breakfasts are served every day; dinners are Monday to Friday afternoons; and there’s a lunch on Saturdays, and lunch on the last Sunday of the month.
COA also hosts a food bank, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, where families and individuals in need can get canned, boxed or frozen food items, often as much as they can carry. On Fridays, a clothing bank runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and clothes and household items of every kind are available free of charge to those in need.
Also provided is a two-hour period each Friday for mothers or families to get free diapers; and free legal advice services each Thursday and Friday afternoon. The nonprofit organization also operates Clark & Atherton Mercantile [LINK TO USE https://www.coalongbeach.org/cam ], a Long Beach thrift store [LINK TO USE: https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=thri... ] and boutique, at 1772 Clark Ave. (at Atherton Street in central Long Beach), run entirely by volunteers with all proceeds going toward the programs COA offers to residents of Long Beach and surrounding communities.
***********
About COA
Christian Outreach in Action is a nondenominational, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been serving the community since 1981. It provides hot meals daily, a food bank twice a week, a clothing giveaway, legal advice services and more to families and individuals in need. See http://www.coalongbeach.org.
***********
Get Acquainted
http://www.coalongbeach.org
***********
Get Social
Instagram: @christianoutreachlb or   / christianoutreachlb  
Facebook:   / coalongbeach  
Messenger: m.me/coalongbeach
Twitter: @COA_LongBeach or   / coa_longbeach  
***********
Get Involved
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/New-Stove-...