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.