Mother’s Day is a special time to pay tribute to all the mothers, grandmothers, as well as mother figures who play an important role in our lives. Although Mother’s Day was a little different this year, the meaning of this special day will never change.

I want to take this opportunity to pray for all the mothers who have worked so hard to provide for their families, especially those who have passed away, due to COVID-19. I also want to recognize all the brave mothers, who are doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, and essential workers on the front line of this pandemic and have had to give up so much of their time to help those in need.

I hope your Mother’s Day was filled with an abundance of love, joy, laughter, and good memories to cherish for years to come.

Thank you to all the women in this video for sharing what Mother's Day means to you and for sharing a few Mother's Day wishes.

Alberta Christy, Former City of Santa Ana Councilwoman

Vivian Cao, District Representative for CA Senator Ling Ling Chang

Maureen Blackmun, President of the Garden Grove Neighborhood Association

Joyce Rivero, Executive Secretary for the First District

Marta Rodriguez, Santa Ana Community Leader

Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvy6fWKAB-A&t=135s

Last Friday, with the help from the US National Volunteer Reserve Corps, made up of retirees dedicated to public service, we distributed another 200 meals to seniors, working families, and children with special needs.

Thank you to the Hand to Hand Relief Organization for preparing the meals once again and to our incredible volunteer delivery drivers!

Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flnxC_C3q94

The State’s Great Plates Delivered program has been extended through June 10!

The program has two purposes:

• Help seniors and other adults at high risk from COVID-19 to stay home and stay healthy by delivering three nutritious meals a day, and
• Provide essential economic stimulus to local businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.

To find out more information on you can sign up, visit the OC Office on Aging website at www.officeonaging.ocgov.com or call (714) 480-6450.

The Driftwood Neighborhood has a new pop-up pantry!

Special thanks to our Neighborhood Captain, Christopher Cardona, for taking the lead on this community effort. 

It was great virtually chatting with the Kiwanis Club of Fountain Valley last Thursday to provide an update on where the County is regarding COVID-19. Opportunities like this one allow our residents to get informed about what their local government is doing. Thanks for having me!

With the coronavirus pandemic closing schools, parents are now playing the role of homeschool teachers and are discovering just how hard it is to teach.

I want to thank all our incredible educators for their ingenuity, resilience, passion, and strength, as we have navigated unprecedented challenges over the past two months.

Every day educators persevere through the challenges of distance learning with an abundance of compassion and care for our students.

In honor of National Day of Prayer last Thursday, let us keep in our prayers the first responders, healthcare workers, essential workers, and all families impacted by COVID-19. This time of physical distancing has fundamentally altered the way we worship, regardless of our individual beliefs. I look forward to a time where we can once again gather in our houses of worship to practice our faiths, but until then, we must keep our community’s health and safety in our prayers.

May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and in the midst of the hate and vitriol we have witnessed against this group due to conspiracies surrounding the Coronavirus, it is absolutely crucial that we recognize their incredible positive contributions to our nation.

From Little Saigon in Westminster to Koreatown in Garden Grove and beyond, Orange County has a rich and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander community that significantly contributes culturally and economically to what makes our county great. During this crisis, we must remember that we are in this together and respect the diverse members of our community equally.

Everyone in our community benefits from the 2020 Census. When we participate in the Census, we help our neighborhoods thrive and build a healthier California.

Fill out your Census form today at www.2020Census.gov.