Glistening Community – Frightful Facts

This past weekend, new reports were released about issues facing Orange County and our nation as a whole. With so many statistics and alarming facts circuiting around the wire, we’ve seemed to almost grow desensitized to the issues. Here are three facts that may remind you, and hopefully, encourage you to give by donating or volunteering. Even if it’s $10 – or 1 hour of service – it will make an impact.

• Orange County’s unemployment rate rose to 7.5% (Employment Development Department)
• United States unemployment rates jumped to 8.1% with 651,000 jobs lost in February (Labor Department)
• Second Harvest Food Bank gave 280,000 Orange County families and individuals food from the food bank in January 2009. Last October, 190,000 accessed this service.

Donate and find volunteer opprotunities at www.ocuw.org

Trick the Trolley with Women Looking Forward

View the Slideshow from the event!

On December 19, Women Looking Forward members and United Way staff gathered together to trick out a trolley with items for the beneficiaries of Share Our Selves, one of United Way’s many community partners serving families in need. Once the trolley was packed with blankets, warm clothes, diapers, children’s toys and food, the Women Looking Forward members jumped aboard the trolley to deliver the items to Share Our Selves.

Jennifer Cagle, Chair of Women Looking Forward, reflects on the importance of volunteering during the holidays. “These are tough times for many families and by sharing our time and treasures with others, we can help make the holidays that much brighter for those less fortunate.

 Women Looking Forward members give $1,000 or more annually to Orange County United Way to support basic needs for families today and long-term solutions focused on education and financial stability for a more prosperous tomorrow. The 140 members and their families are also very active in the community, volunteering their time with many of United Way’s agency partners.

 

“There is no better way to celebrate the true meaning of the holidays,” said Tom Stewart, Owner of The O.C. Cruiser company who so graciously donated the holiday-themed trolley for the special occasion. “Anyway we can help give back to the community, we’re there.”

 

With the current economic climate, Share Our Selves has seen a dramatic increase in the number of families and individuals coming to seek the safety net services they provide to the Orange County community.

 

“We have seen a 40% increase in clients coming to SOS for food this fall as compared to last fall,” said Elizabeth Evans, Communications Manager at Share Our Selves. “We are so grateful for the partnership we have with United Way and the generosity of the Women Looking Forward members.”

Family Fun Volunteer Project

Orange County United Way’s Leaders’ Society and Women Looking Forward members and their families joined for a day of volunteer activities to provide a safe environment to celebrate Halloween festivities for over 250 children from Project Access’s Anaheim facility.  Over 30 donors and their family and friends participated in carnival games, craft tables, a haunted house, and relay races while dressed up in fantastic costumes including a Hawaiian tourist, Glenda the Good Witch, a geisha doll, the Gingerbread Man, and Minnie Mouse.

Volunteers donated needed items for the children and families of Project Access. These items included new Halloween costumes, bags of candy, trick or treat bags, glow in the dark jewelry, flashlights and flashlight batteries. For those unable to attend, monetary and in-kind donations were accepted to help Project Access succeed.

Project Access’s programs are funded under Orange County United Way’s focus on life-long learning and education and its mission is to assist low-income families and senior citizens find affordable housing and achieve self-sufficiency through access to on-site services in education, health, and social services.

Check out the 2008 Halloween Volunteer Project photos!

View the past three years of event photos here!

Volunteer through United Way!

Volunteering is at the heart of the LIVE UNITED campaign, and with so many opportunities and different programs to participate in, anyone can get involved. Even the smallest of actions can make an impact in Orange County and help build self-sufficiency for families and individuals. There are over 150 ways you can help and get involved. It’s fast, it’s easy and the benefits are countless.

Click Here to sign-up for volunteer solutions