SAGINAW, MI – Veronica Vela cannot bring her son back to life, but still she honors his spirit.
In 2011, after Jesse passed away at age 19, a mother known for kindness and giving was so deep in distress that she stopped her service employment as a Hospice aide.
“I couldn’t cope with seeing death anymore,” she reflects.
The hurt never goes away, but Veronica has bounced back to establish La Mision for social aid and emergency assistance.
She has enlisted Rudy Vela, the husband she found months beyond the tragedy. Their top teammates are Domingo E. Delgado and Marcus D. Hill. It’s all volunteer for the near future, but they dream of a day when some nonprofit 501(c)3 funds may come their way.
(An in-depth feature report is offered via Larry Rodarte’s “Mi Gente on Air.” Watch it now on YouTube.)
La Mision started last October. More than 150 helpouts so far exceed one per day — everything from food to furniture to, lately, emergency space heaters and winter coats.
This builds upon years of looking out for those in need. Long ago, the newlyweds stocked a summer mini fridge for the neighborhood kids on their porch on the West Side, midway between the county courthouse and Covenant Health Care.
Rudy often was out in the yard or garage, during his breaks from his truck-driving assignments.
He says he would always be the first to help, but he was a homebody until Veronica came long. She brought him out to dances and other activities, along with the social work.
As a result of La Mision’s constant contact with people in hardship, he says, “Now I look at the guy on the street corner a little bit differently.”
Veronica notes, “Almost always as soon as we receive donated items, right away they’re gone,” says Veronica, now retired, who holds the fort while her truck-driver husband is on the road, while Domingo also is a traveler, finding time between his Flint work shifts at GM Truck and Bus Plant.
Her charitable ethics come from parents Rojelio and Jesusita Salazar, recently retired co-pastors of the former Community Church of God 7th Day at 2112 West Genesee.
“They always were helping the community,” she notes.
Delgado adds, “We already had busy lives, and so now we are just adding to them.”
Veronica updates La Mision’s Facebook page almost daily, stamping “Mission Accomplished” in red capital letters when a need is met.
In a recent example, she wrote: “Our next mission is with a young girl who left a bad situation. She is with another family, but they are on a fixed income. She is in need of clothing, anything a 14-year-old would like. Her clothes size is 12/13 girls. Today is her birthday, everyone give her a birthday blessing.”
One responding donor said her own girls had outgrown the needed size, and the match was made. The only thing missing on La Mision’s FB thank you was a link to the jazzy theme song for TV’s old Mission Impossible show.
Online thanks are given to donors, along with announcements for other sources of aid, some obscure, like a mattress giveaway at the Ramada (formerly Davenport) Inn. They have paired with Community Church of God 7th Day, now at 502 Potter, with New Beginnings Ministries Outreach at 701 Hess, with Union Civica at 2715 Wadsworth and with the Mexican American Council, 1537 South Washington.
Someday the Velas and Delgado aim to find their own office and storage space, but for now they rely on local sources to help them give help. They also are in need of a box truck for transport of furniture and appliances, along with funds for gasoline.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer or donate may contact them via their Facebook page.
