DONOR SPOTLIGHT: UJIMA INC
Ujima Inc, a 10-year-old non-profit organization based in the Inland Empire, provides scholarships to African American medical students who share their vision of health equity for the African American community at educational institutions including the Western University of Health and Sciences, University of California Riverside, and Keck Graduate Institution.
With the rippling effects of COVID-19, Ujima Inc. has seen that the increased need for food is a growing concern for many individuals and can impact a person’s overall health and well-being. That’s one of the many reasons why they’ve entrusted in FARSB with a gift to help feed neighbors in need. Apart from actively serving their own mission, Ujima Inc. recently donated to FARSB to better advance their community in a meaningful way—providing a gift great enough to provide over 4,500 meals to neighbors in need.
“Charity begins at home. We go where the need is,” said Eva Alexis Dotson, President and founder of Ujima Inc. “We just want to make sure enough food is available to those who need it. We’ve seen the lines.”
Because of COVID-19, it’s been estimated that 1 in 2 children will experience food insecurity during these hot summer months. It is crucial now, more than ever, to find ways to help our fellow neighbors, in as many ways as we can.
Aside from their efforts to feed people, Ujima’s scholarship fund is community-based. They strive to help foster a pool of African American health care professionals, to better assist their community.
“Medicine has to be a trusting relationship. We have the resources. We are resourceful and influential. If we focus our talents, we should be able to make an impact. If the village is to thrive, it should be up to the village to do so,” Dotson said.
As COVID-19 continues to alter the way the community moves forward, including, for many, adapting to the reality of unemployment, Ujima Inc. is aware that many essential workers are still at risk of contracting the virus.
“Some professions were able to work from home, but very often there are jobs that can’t be done remotely. A lot of those jobs are held by African Americans. Their livelihood is impacted more than others,” Eva Dotson, said.
Our most vulnerable neighbors may need help in more than one area, and fortunately, multiple organizations right here in the Inland Empire, are doing their best to meet the needs of those neighbors.
Both, Ujima, and FARSB encourage to give where one lives. You can donate to your local food bank at https://www.feedingamericaie.org/donate or donate to Ujima at https://www.ujimascholarshipfund.org/.