Rescue Mission’s Record Number of Kids and Families Need Your Help

The Orange County Rescue Mission is seeking the community’s help to provide necessary supplies and materials for a record number of formerly homeless children and their families currently living at the Village of Hope, its transitional living facility.

“The homeless population throughout Orange County continues to grow at a rapid rate,” explains mission President Jim Palmer. “In fact, in the last year, there was an average of 4,500 homeless men, women and children throughout the Orange County area, resulting in a significant increase in the number of children housed at the Rescue Mission.”

The more than 56 families—with a total of 103 children—currently places Village of Hope at its highest capacity since its 2008 inception, Palmer notes.

“The idea of not being able to afford basic shelter is often difficult to fathom, and many don’t realize that there is a tremendous amount of innocent young children affected by homelessness every year,” he says. “These children face challenges that kids their age should never endure. It is our goal to ensure that we are providing them with the basic needs to fuel their futures in the right direction, and ultimately, reverse the impacts of homelessness.”

Among the donations the mission seeks are:

Pack and Play crib sheets
Two high chairs
Gentle Ease infant formula
Eucerin lotion
Humidifiers
Reams of construction paper
Coloring books
Children’s books
Oriental Trading art projects for various holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc.)
Dreft laundry detergent for babies
Stickers

Drop off items at the mission’s donation warehouse at 1 Hope Drive, Tustin, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The Orange County Rescue Mission, like its Inland Empire sister nonprofit, uses biblical principles in its programs such as relationships, finance, and parenting. Food, shelter, counseling, education, job training, mental wellness, life skills training and medical services are provided to transition the needy to self-sufficient lives. To learn more or volunteer, call 714.247.4300 or visit rescuemission.org.

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