Grupo Angeles, the Group of Angels lending a hand to new immigrants in need
Cesar Adolfo Bonilla, an immigrant from Colombia, makes sure packages get delivered all week long.
But on the weekends, he has a different kind of work ethic — a passion for making life easier for others like him, who came to the U.S. seeking a better life. He dedicates hours each week to a small Catholic church-affiliated group, Grupo Angeles.
As the name suggests, they seek to be angels in the lives of people who could use a little miracle here and there.
“During the week, I work as head manager of the FedEx truck delivering company,” said Bonilla in an interview. “And on the weekend I love to help others and spent time with my second family.”
There are 10 “angels” in the group, each with a different national origin but with the same purpose. They meet up once a week to plan for what ever task they have in hand for the next few months.
In October, they had a 3k walk called “Walk with Olga” (Caminando con Olga), a charity event for breast cancer awareness. Two weekends prior to the walk, the group raised $3,000.
The walk is named for Olga Cruz. Cruz was an illegal immigrant in 2010 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily for her, Bonilla and the group helped her out every year to help her pay her medical bills. After a long and brutal eight years of treatment, she is a survivor — and now able to help others going through cancer crises similar to hers.
“I am very grateful to have Cesar and his group, they make miracles,” said Cruz.
Bonilla came across the group during the Great Recession, circa 2008. Bonilla and his family were going through tough days, and they got closer to losing the house. By the help of the group and friends, Bonilla and his family were able to overcome the big threat of losing their home. Since then, Bonilla has promise to help others in need and his faith has grown stronger than ever.
“Before the recession, I was religious but not very faithful to my faith,” Bonilla said. “After almost losing my home I have come to the conclusion that God helps in mysterious ways.”
In 2016, Bonilla met a refugee family from Venezuela, The Aleman family. Without any questions, Bonilla and his group came in contact with the family and helped them find shelter and food — and helping them learn English. Currently, the family is now better than they have ever been before. The group comes to visit them few times a year.
“It’s hard when you come somewhere new and you have two kids to support. With the help from the group, it made things easier for me and my family,” said Ulysses Aleman, 47, who now lives in Plantation, Florida.
Bonilla has two children, Emily and Matthew, and is married to Carmen. The couples are active in the group together and planning events is a family affair.
“Is funny how we came to known this group,” Carmen said. “ I use to work at a day care and a co-worker that was part of the group mentioned to me about going to the groups on Friday nights, so one day we decide to show up and since then, we have been involved.”
Cesar was born on April 1, 1968 in Colombia, specifically in Cali. At age 15, him and his family moved to New York. For him and his two brothers, moving to the United States was a hard transition because they left behind their friends, family and culture. Today, however, Bonilla says he is grateful to be in this country and appreciates the opportunity to serve others in need.
His motto comes from John Wooden, the great late basketball player and head coach of UCLA: “Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books — especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.”
