CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx \u2014 From funeral services to child care, the Molina Neighborhood Center is doing what they can to hold on.<\/p>\n
“We can only do so much with our own funds, before we have to say, okay, we can’t do it anymore,” Cesar Flores, President & CEO of Neighborhood Centers, said.<\/p>\n
I spoke with Cesar Flores, President of the Neighborhood Centers.<\/p>\n
He says funding from the Texas Workforce was frozen until recently, forcing them to pull from their own budget.<\/p>\n
Molina Neighborhood Center fights to survive funding challenges with community support on Westside<\/p>\n
Despite these challenges, they’re still doing what they can to help people like Julian Lopez.<\/p>\n
“I wouldn’t be kidding if there wasn’t a thousand people coming and going. It was crazy the whole day,” Julian Lopez, Mo-Town Smoker, said.<\/p>\n
Lopez is part of the Mo-Town Smokers, a nonprofit that gives back to their community. But recently, the community gave back to him.<\/p>\n
After learning about his struggle with pneumonia, they held a fundraiser at the Molina Neighborhood Center to help.<\/p>\n
And after learning about the center’s struggles, he wanted to do something about it.<\/p>\n
“And they’ve always come through. So yes, we’d be more than happy to help them out,” Lopez said.<\/p>\n
The Molina Neighborhood Center has been the heart of this community for generations.<\/p>\n
Flores showed me old photos from the 1940s \u2014 images that were seen in “Molina: Hardships, Traditions and Resilience,” a recent documentary released that showcases the resilience and love people have for the Westside.<\/p>\n
“For the past 60 years now, we’ve been a major part of that,” Flores said.<\/p>\n
Now, he’s calling on neighbors including carpenters, welders, and volunteers to help preserve this important part of Molina.<\/p>\n
As for neighbors like Julian, he says they won’t let this place go without a fight.<\/p>\n
“Front and center. Anything they need, we’d be more than happy,” Lopez said.<\/p>\n
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