The Brea Community Emergency Council, or BCEC located at the Brea Community Center, helps Breans who are often facing the worst times in their lives.
BCEC was founded 68 years ago to help residents in their time of need. Imagine, you just got laid off your job and then your car’s transmission goes out. You only have enough money to pay your rent and pick up a few groceries for the family, but what about the car repair? Where to turn for help?
BCEC.
As a Brea resident, you can get one-time financial aid from the emergency council. It’s an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that is fully supported by donations from businesses, individuals, local service clubs and other charitable organizations.
BCEC does not receive any taxpayer funds. The Brea Family Resource Center, however, provides it in-kind administrative assistance.
For many years, Brea students and other folks collected canned food for BCEC’s holiday food drive for families.
“COVID changed our approach as we shifted two years ago to seeking cash donations,” BCEC President Gil Realon said.
He said businesses, service clubs and individuals instead give cash donations used to buy grocery gift cards distributed in December to Brea families and seniors who could use help at the holidays.
The group also works with the Brea Resource Center and Active Christians Today, or ACT, at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, in helping families and individuals, especially during the holidays.
Realon said the BCEC board of directors meets monthly via Zoom. For more information on how you can get involved, email: bcec.brea@gmail.com.
The Brea Resource Center, founded in 1996, is noted for its Adopt A Family and Wish Tree programs during the holidays.
With Adopt A Family, selected families in need are matched up with sponsors, such as service clubs, businesses or individuals, who are given a wish list of items the family members need. The sponsor provides gifts, clothing and essential items for the family during the holidays.
“Sponsors will receive a family profile including age, gender, clothing sizes and wish-list items,” said Jaime Espitia, Brea Resource Center supervisor.
Soroptimist International of Brea/La Habra, my club, has participated in Adopt A Family over the years and it is nearly as rewarding to buy gifts and essentials for a family, as it is for them to receive them, I am sure.
Again this holiday season, the BRC will have the Wish Trees with tags with wants at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center, the Brea Community Center and the Brea Resource Center.
“The BRC is asking for gift card donations that will help us serve Brea residents with practical needs,” said Espitia, “not only the holiday season but all year long.”
She said the ideal gift cards are for grocery stores, gas cards, Target, Walmart, fast-food restaurants, shoe stores and pet stores. Gift cards are also distributed by BCEC and ACT to eligible Brea families.
Brea Resource Center also offers affordable counseling for individuals and families, homeless outreach, Veterans’ programs and much more.
For more volunteering or information, contact the Brea Resource Center at 714-990-7150 or via email at resourcecenter@cityofbrea.gov.
Another reminder, Sept. 6 is the last day to register for the free CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Program Training, which will run between Sept. 9 and 27. Go to cityofbrea.gov to sign up.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.