The mission of Heart of Ida is: To help older adults preserve independence as long as possible and provide cheer when assisted living is necessary.  Heart of Ida runs its programs out of the Long Beach Senior Center in Rose Park. It collaborates with the CSULB Center for Successful Aging, Meals on Wheels Long Beach, and the L.A. Falls Prevention Coalition to provide free bi-weekly phone messages for seniors, their families, and caregivers. There is also a social phone calls program to keep people connected and thriving. (Volunteers welcome!) Other programs include help with animals, gift cards and supplies at the holidays, AgeWell Long Beach Resources, fall-prevention programs, and more.

Heart of Ida was founded by Dina Berg and Keri Reich (member Connie Rich’s daughters) in honor of their activist grandmother, Ida Alice Reich. When Dina and Keri were growing up, their grandmother regularly took them to nursing homes to visit and deliver gifts, inspiring a lifelong love of service. Be sure to check out their Web site at heartofida.org.

Our social justice collection takes place on the second Sunday, but you can support Heart of Ida until the 2nd to last Sunday of the month, by mail, text, or online.  If by mail, note “Social Justice Collection” on your check, and send it to UUCLB, 5450 E. Atherton St., Long Beach, CA 90808.

For online giving go to uuclb.org/give

Using Text-to-Give, text the words “23 Special Collection” and the amount to 833-931-1845. To give $20, for example, text “23 Special Collection $20.” To cover any convenience fees for the church, you can add the word “cover” (so “23 Special Collection $20 cover”) or simply text “Cover fees on” to cover fees on all text gifts.