The Antioch Church of Long Beach provides food, toiletries, appliances, toys, and other items to the neighborhood residents in need during the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 17. 

Providing Christmas Gifts to Community

At Antioch Church of Long Beach, the gift-giving event known as Christmas in the City has developed into a tradition. On Saturday, Dec. 17, that tradition was carried out once again.

According to Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr., there were approximately 1,500 people who had responded to the invitation to attend the giveaway, which included food and gifts of varying shapes and sizes.

Chaney said that the value of all the prizes distributed over the course of the four-hour event was between $200,000 and $250,000.

On Saturday, the primary sanctuary, located at 350 Pine Avenue, was crammed with tables and stacks of boxes containing a variety of items, including toys, home appliances, and electrical goods, the Press-Telegram reported.

Some people who were picking up gifts were already members of the church, while others had seen a poster about the Christmas giving day and decided to wait in line.

According to Chaney, Antioch has been known as a giving church since it was established in 2000 in Central Long Beach. He said that through long-term collaboration with World Vision, for instance, Antioch has sponsored thousands of underprivileged children in Africa.

As per the report, the church is located in a historic building in the heart of downtown Long Beach that was formerly used as a bank and, in its most recent version, as an entertainment venue known as the Vault 350. 

In 2018, Antioch purchased the building and began the process of repairing it so that it may be used as a church on Sundays and Wednesdays. During the remaining time, it is known as Ovation Square and serves as a venue for a variety of gatherings, events, and performances.

Poverty in Long Beach, California

The poverty rate in the City of Long Beach, California, is 16.2 percent, with an estimated 73,488 residents living in poverty out of a total population of 454,821, the Welfare Info revealed. 

Long Beach, California, has a poverty rate that is 26.56 percent greater than the average for the United States. It is projected that 454,821 individuals in the City of Long Beach are living below the poverty line.

The poverty rate in the United States is 12.8 percent, with 324,173,084 people falling into that category.

About Antioch Church of Long Beach

Antioch Church of Long Beach is fiercely impact-driven, and its members are committed to leaving a Godly impression on their families, their City, and the world. They take Christ as their model and His mission as their mandate.

According to the church’s website, at Antioch, they work to change the culture, leave a legacy, stand up for what is right, and do excellent work. They are makers, creators, and action-takers who have been divinely enabled and are working together to make the planet appear a bit more like heaven every day.

The Antioch Church of Long Beach works hard to create a setting in which everyone is not just accepted but also wanted, noticed, and loved.