VONS Foundation Awards $10,000 to Kick-Off 7^th Annual Essentials for Young Lives Drive

Orange County Campaign Collects Items for Homeless Families with Children

 

April 23, 2014 (Irvine, CA) – Today HomeAid Orange County, in partnership with the Children and Families Commission of Orange County, kicked off the 7^th Annual Essentials for Young Lives donation drive at their Community Partner Luncheon held at Precious Life Shelter in Los Alamitos.  The countywide campaign to collect diapers and other essential items for babies, led by Honorary Chair Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, will take place the week before Mother’s Day, May 2 – 11, 2014.  To jump start this year’s campaign, The VONS Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to HomeAid Orange County to help support homeless families in Orange County.

 

“We are pleased to support the Essentials for Young Lives campaign and are proud to be a part of this great effort in improving the lives of homeless mothers and their children in Orange County,” said Jenna Watkinson, Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Vons.  “Whether it’s charitable giving or our employee volunteer program, corporate citizenship is a key component of our business – we call it, ‘The Heart of Vons.’  We’d like to thank HomeAid, the Children and Families Commission, and Sheriff Hutchens for inviting us to join the campaign and help to meet the goal of ensuring that every baby in the HomeAid service provider network has essential items for one year.” 

 

Essentials for Young Lives donations enable recipient agencies to save the funds normally spent on diapers, baby wipes, etc. for use on programs to help their clients achieve self-sufficiency and to lead productive, independent lives.  Donation drop off locations will be located throughout Orange County, including the YMCA and County of Orange public libraries. A complete list of drop off locations and additional information about the donation drive is available at www.homeaidessentials.org.

HomeAid Orange County

HomeAid Orange County is the founding chapter of a national non-profit organization with the vision and purpose to end homelessness.  Through its mission of building new lives for homeless families and individuals through housing and community outreach, HomeAid, develops housing, advocates and provides service in the community to the homeless.

 

Since 1989, HomeAid Orange County – founded by the Building Industry Association of Southern California's Orange County Chapter, has developed 50 shelters, adding more than 1,000 shelter beds throughout Orange County.  HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between services providers, community volunteers, builders and specialty contractors. Tragically thousands are still in need of shelter each and every day.  To help solve this social crisis, new housing developments are being planned and constructed throughout Orange County. For more information, please visit www.homeaidoc.org.​

 

Children and Families Commission of Orange County

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County oversees the allocation of funds from Proposition 10, which added a 50-cent tax on tobacco products sold in California. Funds help pay for education, health care and child development programs for children from birth to five and their families.  The Commission’s goal is to ensure all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school. For more information, please visit www.occhildrenandfamilies.com.

 

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens to Serve as Honorary Chair for Essentials Drive

1.2 Million Diapers Needed for Homeless Babies in Orange County

 

April 7, 2014 (Irvine, CA) – Today HomeAid Orange County, in partnership with the Children and Families Commission of Orange County, announced the dates for the 7^th Annual Essentials for Young Lives donation drive.  The countywide campaign to collect diapers and other essential items for babies, led by Honorary Chair Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, will take place the week before Mother’s Day, May 2 – 11, 2014. 

 

“We are honored to have Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens chairing our Essentials for Young Lives campaign for the fourth consecutive year.  Sheriff Hutchens understands how important this donation drive is for homeless mothers and their infants in our community.   Her participation and the support of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department brings heightened awareness to this important cause,” said Scott Larson, Executive Director of HomeAid Orange County. 

 

Items collected will be distributed among providers who operate transitional housing facilities built in partnership with HomeAid Orange County and serve homeless families.  Essentials for Young Lives donations enable recipient agencies to save the funds normally spent on diapers, baby wipes, etc. for use on programs to help their clients achieve self-sufficiency and to lead productive, independent lives.

 

“The Commission appreciates its partnership with HomeAid Orange County that has successfully increased the capacity at shelters and the support services for homeless mothers with young children,” said Sandra Barry, chair of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. “The Essentials campaign has significantly enhanced the Commission’s investment and promotes our aspiration that all children have a safe and secure place to live.”

 

In just the first six years of the campaign, items collected have grown from 100,000 items in the first year to over one million items last year. This year, the campaign has again set out to ensure that every baby in the HomeAid service provider network has essential items for one year, estimated at 1.2 million diapers and 2.4 million wipes.

 

“I am pleased that our community continues to grow this important effort that helps to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Honorary Chair.  “It is a privilege for the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to participate in the Essentials campaign for the fourth consecutive year because we see firsthand how important transitional housing is to so many Orange County families. By joining with HomeAid and the Children and Families Commission, we can help remove some stress and anxiety that comes with temporary living situations.”

 

Donation drop off locations will be located throughout Orange County. A complete list of drop off locations and additional information about the donation drive is available at www.homeaidessentials.org.

HomeAid Orange County

HomeAid Orange County is the founding chapter of a national non-profit organization with the vision and purpose to end homelessness.  Through its mission of building new lives for homeless families and individuals through housing and community outreach, HomeAid, develops housing, advocates and provides service in the community to the homeless.

 

Since 1989, HomeAid Orange County – founded by the Building Industry Association of Southern California's Orange County Chapter, has developed 50 shelters, adding more than 1,000 shelter beds throughout Orange County.  HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between services providers, community volunteers, builders and specialty contractors. Tragically thousands are still in need of shelter each and every day.  To help solve this social crisis, new housing developments are being planned and constructed throughout Orange County.For more information, please visit www.homeaidoc.org.​

 

Children and Families Commission of Orange County

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County oversees the allocation of funds from Proposition 10, which added a 50-cent tax on tobacco products sold in California. Funds help pay for education, health care and child development programs for children from birth to five and their families.  The Commission’s goal is to ensure all children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school. For more information, please visit www.occhildrenandfamilies.com.

 

 

Contact: Alyson Loyd

(714) 939-9070

alyson@curtpringle.com