Her uncooked empathy has taken her from Pasadena to Skid Row, visiting transitional properties for moms who’ve suffered homelessness, home violence and even intercourse trafficking. Among her many stops was Alexandria House, a shelter for women and their youngsters in Koreatown.

Delgado, 32, zipped inside carrying a striped jumpsuit and carrying handfuls of white bags filled with items for residents. She regarded like a fairy goddaughter, standing in the lobby surrounded with bags rigorously packed by volunteers at her nonprofit group Freedom and Fashion.

“The vulnerable are extremely vulnerable because of Covid so we fill these bags with essential items and luxury items,” she informed CNN. “It kind of hits two birds with one stone.”

The bags embody face masks, shampoo, physique wash and different important items. But additionally they carry jewellery, make-up and present playing cards donated by such manufacturers as Chanel, Morphe and Benefit Cosmetics — in any case, it’s Mother’s Day.

In complete, Delgado plans to hand out 700 bags to women who might actually use a pick-me-up, particularly after such a making an attempt 12 months.

Mimi Bangu, one of the recipients, stated she lapsed into deep despair and homelessness after shedding her job. She sought refuge in Alexandria House together with her three youngsters, two teenage boys and a 10-year-old lady.

The single mom has since transitioned to a spot of her personal, however was invited again to Alexandria House to share in the Mother’s Day festivities.

Delgado handed Bangu a bag that she had been eyeing in the nook beneath a bannister.

“I love gold, everything is (colored) gold,” Bangu informed CNN, smiling as she pulled golden fragrance, lotions and a fabric headband from the bag.

“It feels amazing,” she stated. “We (single moms) don’t get this often. And you know I like gold, and to have this on Mother’s Day, it made my day.”

Mekides Mengesha stated she ended up in Alexandria House after shedding her restaurant job after which her house.

“When I came here, I was homeless,” the younger mom and immigrant from Ethiopia stated. “When I got into this house, I said ‘this is my family.'”

Mengesha was excited to decide her bag, which included a multi-colored fanny pack she stated will come in useful when she goes for jogs.

Since its founding in 1996, Alexandria House has sheltered greater than 300 women and their youngsters. Celebrities, together with Kim Kardashian West, have visited and supported the shelter. And Justin Bieber shot his music video for “Intentions” on the premises.

To assist women like Bangu and Mengesha, Delgado based Freedom and Fashion. The group works to empower youth and women by means of vogue and sweetness to assist them overcome their experiences with home violence, intercourse trafficking and different injustices, in accordance to its web site.

Neither Bangu nor Mengesha stated they have been abused. But Delgado stated that she is a survivor of home violence and sexual assault.

“I do know what it’s like to be in a really dark place,” she stated, including that the coronavirus pandemic has solely made the scenario worse for a lot of women.

Incidents of home abuse rose sharply throughout the globe throughout lockdown, as many victims have been pressured to keep indoors with their abusers, in accordance to UN Women. The United Nations even referred to as it a “shadow pandemic.”

Delgado is aware of her Mother’s Day present bags solely supply a short lived reprieve from the ache that many of the women really feel. But she says watching their faces “light up” once they open them makes all of it worthwhile.

Beaming, Bangu clutched her golden fabric head band, earlier than realizing that her daughter will quickly snatch it away.

“She’s going to steal it,” she stated with a large, resigned mom’s smile.



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