Volunteers from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon and Catholic faiths came together at the 11th Annual Coat Drive and Soup distribution for the San Jose downtown community. A group of volunteers from the Pacifica Institute participated in the coat drive and soup distribution event along with the Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Grace Baptist Church communities. Throughout the two-day event a total of 225 volunteers worked together to collect 1247 coats, raise $4113, serve at least 285 families and provide 120 blood pressure checks.
Minister of Counseling, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rev Celinda Miranda’s statement regarding this charitable event is as follows: “On behalf of Pacifica institute and Emmanuel Baptist Church and Grace Baptist Church, we’d like to express our most heartfelt appreciation for everyone’s incredible dedication to meeting the needs of the San Jose Downtown community. Our 11th Annual Coat and Soup Giveaway was again a tremendous success and everyone’s efforts allowed us to ‘come together as a village’ to meet the needs of God’s people. Our interfaith efforts were represented by members of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon and Catholic faiths. We had WestMed College students doing blood pressure checks, different fraternity and sorority organizations represented and many other civic and business organizations donate. God allowed our efforts to overflow because of everyone’s generosity and giving spirits. Thank you. We could not do it without everyone’s dedication. May this Christmas season of celebration find you also overflowing in peace, love and joy with you and yours.”