California

Palm Desert Employee Honored as State Farm’s Southern California Volunteer of the Year

When Lucio Lerma began volunteering for Manna Projects in the Coachella Valley, he wasn’t expecting any accolades; he just wanted to give back, and thought his ability to speak Spanish might be an asset to an organization trying to address hunger and poverty.

Seven years later, after countless hours of time and dedication to Manna Projects, Lerma was honored by State Farm as Volunteer of the Year for Southern California. Lerma has been a State Farm employee for over eighteen years, and currently works as an auto estimatics inspector in the Palm Desert.

By day, Lerma works in auto estimatics, delivering on State Farm’s mission to help people recover from the unexpected. In the evenings and on the weekends, he spends time helping Manna Projects in Riverside County by raising funds and awareness, as well as packing and delivering food to families in need.

“I was born and raised in the Coachella Valley,” Lerma said. “When I became aware of what Manna Projects was doing in my own backyard, I decided to get my family involved.”

Manna Projects, a sub-organization of the Oasis Life Training Center, focuses on tackling the issues of hunger and poverty in the Coachella Valley. Since 1999, Manna Projects has donated more than one million pounds of food and supplies to Coachella Valley communities – some where more than 98 percent of children are living below the poverty level.

Lerma’s involvement has allowed him to instill the importance of giving back in his two daughters, Elianna and Victoria. “As parents, my wife and I feel that the best way to teach our daughters to be grateful for all we have is for them to see – with their own eyes – people for are truly less fortunate,” Lerma said. “They understand the blessing of giving back and are not so easily enticed to want the latest device or name-brand jeans.”

In addition to his Volunteer of the Year award, Lerma also received proclamations from the Riverside Board of Supervisors, California Senator Bill Emmerson, and Assemblyman Brian Nestande.

“I am proud to play a small role in what Manna Projects is doing,” Lerma said. “I’m also proud of the fact that a company like State Farm would invest the time and effort to recognize its employees for simply wanting to make a difference. It encourages me to continue.”