All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (Galatians 2:10)
Growing up in the barrio (the Latino ’hood) of East Los Angeles, Ed and Lona Aguirre learned early on what it means to be in need. They spent their formative years in a tough neighborhood where it’s almost impossible to remain neutral in the gang rivalries; you’ve got to pick a side, one or another, if you want to stay alive. Like many families they relied heavily on public assistance and food pantries, just to get by.
Ed and Lona met in elementary school, and began dating a couple of years later. When Lona became pregnant in high school, she and Ed moved out of their parents’ homes and lived in a rented garage. Paying the rent was always a struggle; at one point they paid half of their $700 rent with a bucket full of coins.
In the years that followed, they had two more children and it became even more difficult make ends meet. In the course of 14 years they were forced to move 16 times, in search of an affordable home. On one occasion Ed spent his last $15 to buy a Christmas tree, but he couldn’t afford a stand. So they took an empty Folger’s coffee can, inserted the tree trunk, and weighed it down with rocks. Mission accomplished.
At last their fortunes turned, as Ed landed a good-paying job at Alcoa. Lona worked as a substitute teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District, and then for a family day care. But when Ed lost his job after ten years, they relocated to Palmdale, a suburb of Los Angeles. There he worked for PPG, but his salary still wasn’t enough. So he borrowed $2,000 from his employer, and with that seed money Lona established a day care center in their home, in 1992. It quickly became profitable, as they brought in thousands of dollars per week.
With their newfound success, the Aguirres didn’t forget their roots. In addition to their own three children, they adopted three more. They donated generously to local charities, including Grace Resource Center, a Christian relief agency in Lancaster.
Finally they met disciples from the Antelope Valley Church, and were baptized in November 1996. They were attracted not by fancy theological arguments, but instead by the friendly loving people. And from that point, their charitable giving took off.
Challenged by their example, and with the encouragement of evangelist Bob Harpole (who now serves in the Los Angeles church), the disciples of the Antelope Valley Church began to provide Thanksgiving meals for hundreds of poor and disadvantaged families in their community. For Christmas they head up a toy drive, which served 201 children this year. At back-to-school time, they distribute backpacks full of school supplies. And at Easter, gift baskets are provided for kids who might otherwise go without. The entire congregation rises to the occasion with contributions, but Ed and Lona remain the heart and soul of the operation.
Recently, the Aguirres stepped up their commitment further and established Pure and Simple Charities, which serves as an umbrella organization for the benevolent work that they were already doing anyway.
As Christians, we know that have a duty to serve the poor and needy among us. Most of our congregations support HOPE worldwide, and we should continue to do so. But there’s a special sense of satisfaction that can only come when we get involved on a “street-level” basis. We need to serve not just the needy across the sea, but also the family down the street.
If one small church of 240 disciples can serve its community in this way, any group of dedicated disciples can band together and duplicate that success. Ed and Lona are eager to share their ideas with other congregations in the ICOC family.