March 28, 2012....Nora, operations director for South County Outreach shared information about the valuable services this non profit provides. Most interesting, in Oct. 1996 Nora had a brain aneurysm, lost her job, home and husband. She received a second chance at life by surviving and now thriving, giving back through her work at this organization.
They provide emergency assistance and tools for the homeless to help themselves. They provide clients with food for five days; rental assistance; run a computer learning lab (2,000 classes annually), and give homeless the skills to get a job or increase their income. The Laguna Hills Thrift Store, located on Ridge Route, sells clothes for kids.
It's not all homeless they serve. During the summer, an increase in teachers who normally work summer school shifts, need assistance. Their backpack program provides for 700 kids. A holiday program, adopting 1,000 families by teaming with the community is popular (The Jewelry Box in Lake Forest also provides donations through their battery giveback). Seventeen homes provide transitional homeless program, and the social services tailored for each family as they move from homeless to a new home. Other services include:
-200 Easter baskets to give to families
-Homeless Prevention Program-helping people just making ends meet
-Donate food for their pets.
-Purchase food from Second Harvest Food Bank.
-They see singles, seniors, disabled, military, all living pay check to pay check. $6.72 buys food for a family of four for six days.
-Volunteers: 250 regularly scheduled volunteers help the six full-time staffers. 8% are seniors. 38,000 volunteer hours a year.
-Visit their website for a list of supply items they need, you can donate.
SCO goal is to keep residents in our community, we don't have alot of shelters in South County, so keeping them in their home is a goal. They provide a hub of service to help however they need help.
The Irvine Rotary Club donated $500 to this worthy organization; with a commitment to donate more later this year.
