Category Archives: Working Poor

May9

Local outreaches and food pantries

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The bread and produce room

Last week several of us from around Orange County that serve the low income, some homeless, motel families, single parents and other services came together to meet at Second Harvest. It was wonderful because we finally met face to face with many that have a desire to serve those in need and have served for years but not for the money. Although there are many causes out in our world today, such as Charity Water, which is quite impressive to say the least, there are many of us who have worked for years serving without the thought of raising a lot of money, getting any kind of a paycheck, (most of us volunteer or are paid very minimal) or any recognition.

 

What was so nice were the ideas and things that these organizations do such as mobile health clinics, case management to help get others off the streets, children’s books and programs with Project Dignity, churches that give out food and cooked meals. I mean this is outstanding if you really think about it.

Some of us give money and we need money to pay for the gas, the facilities, the food, the overhead and some part-time staff. But others of us give time. We get yelled at sometimes, we get kissed on the face, we get hugs and thank yous…people on the street that you don’t remember helping come and tell you thank you when you are getting your Starbucks. (yes, I am addicted, just ask anyone)  Those moments are priceless. Most of us are not government supported because if so, they could tell us who to serve or who not to serve. We are people serving and giving.

This flood of feelings come over you when a mom leans over her car and cries and cries when one of us gave her a gift or a cake because she feels God heard her prayer. Or the family who just got kicked out of their apartment because they just could not afford it any longer and you are able to pay for one night somewhere and the only reason you could do that was because a dedicated family who is teaching their children to give saves all their coins to give to YAS and you just happened to get that envelope.

You make so many friends it is incredible. We all stand side by side working in all different ways, packing, cleaning, patrolling, sorting, mopping….you name it we do it.

I just want to say a big thank you to those who do not do this for the recognition but because of love and some of us are commanded to do so by Christ who said, “freely you have received, freely give.”

March.April 2013 059

Those in need that come weekly

 

Apr29

Northwest Herald | Churches collect food for area pantries

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Northwest Herald | Churches collect food for area pantries.

 

This is a great way to serve the community as a body of believers. We have one church small group that gives to fresh oranges YAS regularly which is Mars Hill OC. They collect oranges from around the city of Orange and bring them to us to redistribute to those in need. Thanks Mars Hill OC!

 

Ambersweet oranges, a new cold-resistant orang...

Ambersweet oranges, a new cold-resistant orange variety. USDA photo. Image Number K3644-12. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Apr16

Shepherd House’s nine food pantries aid thousands – News – Standard Speaker

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Just as this person said….we are feeding families now and not just individuals.

 

Shepherd House’s nine food pantries aid thousands – News – Standard Speaker.

Oct12

Americans struggling for food and so is Orange County, CA

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Americans struggling for food

The perception of Orange County is that it is a wealthy community.  But this is not true for hundreds of thousands of residents.  The recession and collapse of the local construction industry have negatively impacted countless families and individuals.  Many have lost jobs and homes.  And many are hungry.  They include families with young children, struggling college students and seniors living alone on meager social security checks.  These are people new to YAS food lines and now stand shoulder to shoulder with chronically homeless individuals who first received distributed food.

Those in line waiting for food

In Orange County, 12.2% of the residents live in poverty having incomes below the poverty line up from 8.9% in 2007. For a family of four living in Orange County, this is an annual income of $21,027 or less. Also, 30.4% of Orange County Households are unable to meet their basic needs, 90.9% of these households are working families . The number of families with school age children who live in poverty is alarming.  The California Department of Education reports that 1 out of 6 school age children (ages 5 to 17) living in Orange County live in poverty. In Orange County, 177,650 children (23.4%) face food insecurity, with about 46% unlikely to qualify for federal nutrition programs. Further, Second Harvest Food Bank Orange County reports that nearly half of the public school children rely on reduced or free lunches for their major source of nutrition.  This means that more than 200,000 children may go to bed hungry on weekends and during school vacations.

We are not sure how the next year is going to go but most of those who receive food from us do work but are not able to pay food costs.

Thank you to those who serve and give to this program.

 

 

Mar9

Report details food hardship in SoCal

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Los Angeles Times~Tiffany hsu

In SoCal areas, a quarter of families can’t afford enough food: report

Food hardship One in five Americans said they had trouble affording enough food at times last year, according to a new report from the Food Research and Action Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
By Tiffany HsuFebruary 29, 2012, 10:10 a.m.

Last year, nearly one in five Americans said that they couldn’t afford enough food, according to a new report. About a quarter of residents in parts of Southern California said the same.

During the 12 months of 2011, 18.6% of families across the country said that at times there wasn’t enough money to buy food, according to the Food Research and Action Center. That’s up from 18% in 2010 and the highest annual rate in the four years that the organization has put out its annual food hardship report.

Article Here 

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Feb10

Training children to serve and to give to those in need

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I am reposting an article from Proverbs 31 a women’s blog that my dear friend Rebecca sent me.

When I was a single mom, there were many times I thought how dire my situation was, paying child support, struggling although I made pretty good money to provide for my boys but when we (the boys and I) would see someone in need, would give to them, no questions asked.

Taylor Hartman picking up food for YAS

It sometimes irritated them, they were pretty young at the time however, they continued to watch me give to those who had less than us and began to do it themselves. This carried over to their teen years and young adult life, as each of them starting with our oldest, Taylor served and still serves in the YAS outreach at our food pantry in Orange along with his wife, Halannah all the way down to Caleb, our youngest.

Ashley, her husband Jack serve everytime they come to California, Skylar, Krystin, Cody, Alexis and Calebserve regularly too. Cody, Caleb and Alexis have been an integral part of this outreach as they have given a lot of their teen years to serving and helping to build this outreach along with many other young people.

Caleb, Travis and Christian helping build out part of the YAS room

One thing about our church and this community program, many of our families have children and youth who work side by side with each other, with all ages, all walks of life and all ethnicities to give to those in need here in Orange.

Sky talking to a woman about YAS

We taught our children to serve and love it because there might be a time when they have a need but most of all, it is what Jesus says to do. He tells us in John 6 that he fed the 5,000 and He knew what was in their hearts and Mathew 14:14 says, “He was moved with compassion.” In James 2:15-16 we are told If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Madison and Susan Saldivar serving the community with Susan Durocher

This is a good post and very transparent. As parents, we model for our children, what they should do and live and prayerfully, they will follow suit. ~Michelle

Teaching Our Children Empathy

 by Laura Hodges Poole
 Recently, my son Josh and I were surfing the Internet for a particular charity to which he wanted to donate. With the click of the mouse we made a contribution, and he was off to his next activity. Something troubled me about this, and then it occurred to me what it was: It had been too easy to click and run.
Feb7

Dura Doggie, food pantries and volunteers at You Are Special food pantry in Orange!

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Every Tuesday a dedicated group of people unbeknownst to many come and sort the food that You Are Special gives out every single Wednesday to the low income, working poor, homeless and just plain struggling in Orange and the surrounding cities of Santa Ana, El Modena, Anaheim, Tustin and Villa Park. They sort the food that many grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s, Albertson’s, Pacific Ranch Market, Ralph’s, Chipotle and even Starbucks donates and gives to us, a little ole food pantry in this wonderful city of Orange.  A city that many think is just a bubble in Orange County. We are surrounded by wealth but beneath the surface are those that struggle especially during this time and season of economic hardship.

Well, this week we had a wonderful new fresh company start up, come and volunteer to help sort the food out for tomorrow, Dura Doggie . Elaine contacted me and asked how they could help us, so we told them. Their company spent several hours listening to our stories, sorting fruits and vegetables, bread, unloading heavy boxes and became part of the organization for a day. 

Thank you Dura Doggie for being so generous in supporting YAS with your time and hard work!

Michelle

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Jan21

Shoe giveaway at Toms for those in need…

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TOMS Shoes

Image via Wikipedia

My son Skylar purchased a pair of Toms Shoes for my third grandchild, Jaxon. I am not a fan of these shoes because I don’t like to be cold and they look like slippers to me. However, they are quite popular right now and the little shoes, Jaxon is only one, are pretty cute. I am a mom and a grandma so pretty is an accurate description but right on the box as I was opening them up was this statement, “With every pair you purchase, Toms will give a paid of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.” I was totally impressed. Thank you Toms for thinking of those in need. There are many in the US who have a need too. Bless you!

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Jan18

Neighbors who give to food pantries

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Piggy bank china

Image via Wikipedia

After feeding those in need today which was about 261 families, a little more than we ususually give out too, a man stopped by and popped in the door of You Are Special and approached my son, Caleb. He asked, “Is this the food pantry?” to which Caleb responded, “yes but we are all out of food.” Jason responded with , “no, no, I am not here to get food but to drop off some money.” Very surprised Caleb responded with, “Wow, well go right over there and you’ll find the person you need to talk to.” So Jason came over and met my husband Eric who then brought me out. Jason preceded to tell us that he and his family have some piggy bank jars lined up in their house and they put money in there for different purposes and one of those purposes was to give to YAS, a local food pantry. Needless to say that was extremely generous and kind to think of us. The amount does not matter but the heart of giving does.

Right now the economy is challenging and many people are hurting and have a basic need to feed their families. We serve whoever has a need no questions asked the unemployed, the homeless, the working poor, children, the destitute, the single parents, the youth out of college that do not have jobs right now, and the elderly which make up almost half of who we give too. It breaks my heart. One lady told me that she is feeding her family of 30 this weekend for Chinese New Year. I would have liked to help her more but we just don’t have the finance capability to do that.

We so appreciate those who stop by like Jason and his wife Jennifer and for that we are thankful for their generosity and their heart.

Michelle

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