SOMEBODY’S SOMEONE

Family honors woman’s legacy by helping the homeless

By Jennifer Serrano Ramirez

Along-lasting legacy began with a relationship that sparked in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lydia Gutierrez Lopez, a mother of four, always had a special place in her heart for the homeless community. She became extremely empathetic towards homelessness, knowing her first-born grandson, Angel, and his girlfriend, Neecol, were experiencing it. Lydia opened her doors to them and offered them shelter, a place to stay.

During the pandemic, Lydia’s love for Angel and Neecol grew as they began to spend more time together. She was grateful that they were keeping her company in such rough times of isolation.

Unfortunately, on Dec. 20, 2020, Lydia passed away from complications due to COVID. On May 9, 2021, Mother’s Day the following year, her daughter and namesake, Lydia Lopez, decided to continue her legacy.

When Lydia G. passed away, Neecol decided to express her gratitude to her family.

Daughter Lydia L. says Neecol told them,”Your mom was the only person who made me feel like I was a human being. She took me in and she gave me clothing. She treated me like family. Not only was she like family, but she was my friend. We were best friends.”

After Neecol expressed her gratitude for Lydia G., Lydia L. said she knew she had to continue helping people who suffered from homelessness.

“That just triggered something inside of me that just said, ‘I need to run with this. I need to run with the heart of my mom,’” said Lydia L.

Lydia L. started a Christian organization called LydiaGFoundation. It has accomplished much in just one year. They offer socks, clothing, food and hygiene products to homeless people around Kern County.

The LydiaGFoundation has also made its way up to Santa Monica. Because the foundation has done so much for the community, Lydia G. was also honored with a spot in Bakersfield’s COVID-19 Memorial.

Lydia L. helps the homeless to honor her mom’s legacy because she understands how possible and real it is for somebody to struggle with homelessness.

She said it is easy for someone to fall into the trap of homelessness, which is exactly why everyone should feel more compassionate for those living on the streets.

“There’s somebody’s someone. There’s somebody’s daughter, somebody’s sister, somebody’s mother. There’s somebody’s friend, cousin. They’re somebody’s someone,” Lydia L said.

Throughout the months of meeting and helping new people, Lydia L. has collected some interesting stories.

Jean, a lady in her early 50s and a former RN nurse, was admitted to the hospital for trying to commit suicide. When she was released, she had nothing; she felt lost, but luckily, the LydiaGFoundation was there to help.

All Jean wanted were socks, clean clothing, and food. The foundation’s team provided her with what she needed and made sure to let her know that she had their support.

Fast forward a few months later, and now Jean has a job helping take in other homeless women and is sober from drugs.

Jean told Lydia L., “You’re very much a part of that. You guys are my family.”

Lydia L. said these moments made everything worth it. She started this foundation to help homeless people and to honor her mom’s kind heart. One can tell how much love Lydia L. has for her mother, and how much more determined it makes her to help people on the streets.

“Well, my mom was a beautiful lady inside and out. She had a heart of gold and she definitely left a legacy for us to live out, and I want to honor her all the days of my life. Just to bring her face to the world because she’s so beautiful. I, I just want the world to know how beautiful her heart was and the loving heart she had,” said Lydia L.

To make a donation, go to the “LydiaGFoundation” on Facebook and Instagram.