Interfaith Food Center Executive Director Amy L. Catt sits behind cramped quarters on June 28, 2013 at the antiquated office at 14545 Leffingwell Road in Whittier. The 20-year-old program feeds about 1,200 families every week and is moving to spacious digs in Santa Fe Springs with a grand opening planned for Aug. 21.

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Yet it is moving to new, spacious digs

By Tim Traeger
Editor
411whittier.com
WHITTIER – Federal sequestration is taking food out of the mouths of the area’s neediest people. Literally.
Funding for the Interfaith Food Center on Leffingwell Road has been drastically cut, meaning the 250 families served daily by the center are in jeopardy of slipping off the food assistance grid.
“Because of sequestration, we are not getting any federal funding this year. Usually, we get around $40,000 in federal funding money from SEMA. This year they haven’t released anything because of sequestration, so we haven’t gotten any RFPs (request for proposals) to get the money,” lamented Amy L. Catt, the center’s executive director. “And this week is the end of our fiscal year. So we haven’t had funding for the last half of the fiscal year which means we’ve had to come up with money from other places. On top of the move. So on top of trying to get the money to do the move, we’ve also lost that funding, money strictly for food purchase. So we’ve had to take the funding that we’ve had for, say, general operating costs to keep the doors open and have funneled it into food because that’s our mission.
“We want to make sure that this group of vulnerable people are getting the nutritious food that they need. It’s been a tough one for us. The (Whittier Host) Lions Club is helping out a lot, but I still need something so I can open my doors.”
Catt, 53, said the center opened about 20 years ago when a coalition of churches came together to help feed the poor. Now the center is its own non-profit, non-denominational entity.
“So we’re not directly associated with any church or religion. We just kept the Interfaith name because it is people from every faith coming together,” Catt said. Husband Steve has a recruiting company. Son Robert volunteers at the center, so does daughter Christie.
Whittier as a rule is a generous, giving town.
“All the nonprofits in Whittier are also connected. They get to know each homeless person, their particular situation. One of their first referrals is to Ted (Knoll) at First Day. If they need more meals, they will be referred to Dottie at St. Mathias Episcopal Church,” Catt said.
“In the nonprofit world we all try and help each other out like with the Whole Child and their housing program. We all try and work together. We’re all helping the same people,” Catt said. The center has four paid employees. Everyone else is a volunteer. On a typical day, 20 to 30 volunteers man the stations. In the main warehouse, produce comes from L.A. Regional Food Center like carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, artichokes and the like. The staples are put into bags for distribution to clients, who come in the front door and check in. “If there’s a birthday, the client gets a cake, if we have it,” Catt said.
“These are Friday volunteers and these are Friday pickup people,” Catt said on June 28, 2013. “They’ve built a relationship among themselves.” Other food staples include eggs, milk, cheese, cereal, canned goods and more. There’s even a sack lunch program for the homeless.
“Our population is low-income families in Whittier and La Mirada. We just recently expanded into Santa Fe Springs with our move,” Catt said.
Families go through a registration process to verify they live in the area and fall within income guidelines. Basically for a household of one, the income can be no more than $1,438 a month, Catt said.
“Everybody falls below that.”
The good news? Interfaith is taking a spacious building at 1819 Burke St. in Santa Fe Springs. City Manager Thadeus McCormack has arranged for bus service, as has 4th District Supervisor Don Knabe. The center will grow from about 4,000 square feet to about 6,800 square feet through funding from the BCM Foundation, Parsons, the Ahmandson Foundation, the Green Foundation, the Geunther Foundation, the Rose Hills Foundation, Jim and Karen Shepard and a host of others.
There is a grand opening planned for Aug. 21.
“We’re having separation anxiety because we’re used to being on top of each other,” Catt said. “It’s a little scary. It’s really hard for me not to jump up and down when I see this place.”
For Program Director Veronica G. Hernandez, 36, the biggest benefit to running the center for the last eight years is its people.
“It’s making a difference. Food is so important. Every time it just brings joy to people,” Hernandez said.
That sentiment was echoed by volunteer Richard Harms, 87. “The best part is all the friends. One more thing, though. They appreciate you to death.” After 28 years working for the U.S. Postal Service, Harms said giving out yogurt, milk, juice, sausage, eggs and cheese is just part of the daily routine.
The battalion of mostly older volunteers collect slightly dated “close to code” foodstuffs from a plethora of area grocery stores, seven days a week. The center also collects from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The USDA gives canned food that can go to anyone, whether they’re registered or not with the center.
Catt said the Great Recession has bumped the number of families helped on a weekly basis to 1,200.
“We’ve almost doubled the number we’ve been helping in the last four years,” she said.
For administrative assistant Nancy Diaz, a 10-year employee from Pico Rivera, the best part of the job is coordinating the annual kids’ summer camp.
“I would say helping the people. Seeing them get back on their feet. I compare them to my own life. It makes me a little more appreciative of what I have in my life.”
The center runs like a factory. A large, compassionate factory.
Touring the new center compared to the old one on Leffingwell brought smiles to Catt’s compassionate face.
She said in addition to daily food distribution, the center will also offer advice from the Intercommunity Counseling Center, there will be an area for purely homeless clients, a bathroom, a service area and an office for the warehouse manager.
“Isn’t this amazing?” Catt said surveying the 4,500-square-foot warehouse space at the new Burke Street location. “We will create a sorting and cleaning area to meet Department of Health guidelines. Pre-prep sink and food prep sink. We don’t prepare any food, but go through it and sort it.”
Construction on the interior warehouse will be done by general contractor Jeff Hutchison. “He recommended a few good Christians who are willing to help us out. He’s been wonderful,” Catt said.
In addition the Whittier Host Lions Club donated $25,000 to buy two walk-in refrigerators and a phone system.
The center is leasing the new building from Dan McColl, son of the trust owner.
“They’ve been really helpful on rent. They’ve given us a couple months’ free rent. They’re putting in the carpeting and the tile in the office space and helping us stripe the parking lot,” Catt said. “We will have a nice large break room for the volunteers to congregate. We will also use the space for various community events and the Intercommunity Counseling Center and the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, who sends an attorney once a month for family law consultation and sessions with clients.”
Tim Traeger is former editor of the Whittier Daily News. Contact him at ttraeger@411whittier.com, phone 626-646-7352 or follow him on Twitter at @411whittier.com

Paul White, left, interviews former Whittier Mayor Monte Wicker during the Whittier Host Lions Club meeting on July 25, 2013, at the American Red Cross building on Washington Avenue. Wicker, 96, was feted for his longevity and his community involvement. His harmonica playing brought the packed house down.

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Longtime Lion, Whittier gem brings down the house
By Tim Traeger
Editor
411whittier.com
WHITTIER – A packed houseful of Lions feted longtime Whittier Host Lions Club member and former mayor Monte Wicker on Thursday, July 23, 2013 and the 96-year-old brought down the house with his sage wit and his harmonica.
In a hilarious format coined “Legendary Lion of the Day,” emcee and fellow Lion Paul White coaxed some humor from the founder of Monte’s Camera in Uptown, both sitting on lounge chairs on stage at the American Red Cross building on Friends Avenue.
“My father was a charter member of the Whittier Host Lions in 1922,” Wicker began. “It impressed me so much the word ‘Lion.’ And I’ll never forget. He took me to a meeting and they brought in a full-sized Lion from Gay’s Lion Farm in El Monte. They had him on a leash but I later learned he didn’t have any teeth.”
When did Wicker join the Lions Club?
“I’ve been around the Lions Club so long I don’t even remember,” he deadpanned.
Do you remember who your sponsor was?
“No.”
“Give us a point of reference. How old are you?” White asked. “You appear a lot younger than you really are.”
“I just learned yesterday to add and subtract and I came up with a number. Ninety-six.”
“Tell us about growing up in Whittier. Outside of the club you certainly have a great presence here.”
“This is one of the best towns in the world. I’m sure of that,” Wicker said. “Growing up in Whittier was great. We had parades every year for awhile. I remember when they brought a whole herd of sheep down Philadelphia and down Greenleaf.”
“Were there any good-looking ones?”” asked Frank Hill, also a longtime club member.
“It depends,” Wicker said. “I guess so.”
“I guess he’s an animal lover,” rang out a voice in the crowd to spasms of laughter.
“You shared stories from the past about this building in particular. Take us back. Tell us about some memories you had in this building,” White said.
“Do you know how many times I got snookered in here? This building, for all the time I’ve been in high school, we had all our dances here.”
Any extra-curriculars that went on during those dances? White asked.
Wicker talked of a friend named Ed McClain who helped smuggle liquor into the hall. Monte would drop a 30-foot string down and Ed would tie it to a bottle.
It was determined Wicker served as Lions president in 1969.
“I have absolutely no recollection,” Wicker said. It was also determined Wicker has been a Lion for a gazillion years.
“I went to a Lions Club meeting in 1922, when I was about 5. The reason I remember it is when I was sitting there they walked this great big lion by. It scared me to death. Then they told me it had no teeth. Afterwards.”
White then asked Monte about the love of his life, Beverly Harris. The lovebirds have been dating since 1956.
“I’ve loved her more than any woman I’ve ever known, except you, Ellen, sorry, he said looking skyward in reference to his first wife.”
“Beverly and I were in a play together. I had the hots for her. So I was invited to a party at the Assistance League. So I called her up and said, ‘Beverly, this is Monte Wicker.’”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to the Assistance League party?”
“Yes.”
“I said so will you go with me?”
“Yes.”
“So we’ve been going together ever since. She’s a fabulous woman. How long have I known you?” Monte asked Beverly from the stage.
“1956.”
“Hey, she remembers!” Wicker said.
“That’s remarkable, because she’s only 35,” White joked.
“Maybe 36,” Wicker said.
“Whittier has always been a fabulous town. The Lions Club has always been the best club in town. And I wouldn’t trade growing up here for any place in the world.”
“Monte’s dad was a charter member of the club back on May 22, 1922. We’ve had a consecutive Wicker in our Lions Club for the last 90-plus years,” said fellow Lion Ron Copley. “That’s more than amazing.”
White finished by thanking Monte’s son, Kim, for helping him arrange the “interview.”
“Kim was one of the sober ones in the family,” the elder Wicker said. “We have others …”
Asked about public service, Wicker said, “I was in the Army a couple of years.”
“The Civil War?” joked another voice.
“I do things and enjoy them and then put them out of my mind. Because something else it going to happen that’s just as good.”
“I hear tell that you’re a fantastic harmonica player,” White said.
At the urging of the crowd, Wicker, who has been playing the harmonica since fourth grade, asked Beverly what to play.
“Begin & Bevuine,” Harris said.
For the next two full minutes, Wicker belted out the tune.
“That was a treat for all of us,” White said.
“You should hear me on the clarinet,” Wicker smiled.
Before Wicker’s presentation, Lion Vince Daigneault gave out the final of 11 scholarships to two deserving students.
Katie Martorano, a graduate of La Serna High, received her first club scholarship in 2010. She is now a double major in communications and studio arts with a minor in art history at Loyola Marymount. She plans on becoming an interior decorator. Shows it pays to stay in touch with the Lions.
“This young lady is receiving her fourth ongoing scholarship. It’s the first one we’ve walked through four years of college, Daigneault said.
“I promise to keep in touch with you guys so I can watch you grow even older,” Martorano said.
The first recipient of the Mac and Carolyn McFarland Scholarship was Ganeev Sangh, 18, a product of Whittier High. He plans on becoming a doctor and will attend UCLA.
“The second recipient today is a special young man. We try and isolate now the best of the best. We are looking for the best students from high schools involved in our program. And now we are able to distinguish a specific scholarship for the absolute best student from that particular year.”
Sangh was the “absolute best choice” to receive the first McFarland scholarship, Daigneault said.
“It’s a pleasure for me to present this to you,” Mac McFarland said. “My wife and I established this criteria to have a student (win) from any of the five high schools.”
Tim Traeger is former editor of the Whittier Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @411whittier, e-mail him at ttraeger@411whittier.com or call 626-646-7352.