HomeAid of Orange County Asks for Donated Baby Goods

During HomeAid's fourth annual Essentials for Young Lives donation drive, the organization is asking for baby products during the week leading up to Mother's Day. Donations will be sorted and then distributed throughout Orange County to temporarily homeless mothers, their toddlers and babies.

Items most needed are diapers (newborn to toddler), baby wipes and baby food. Baby hygiene products such as lotions and washes will also be accepted. Donors can take contributions to collection sites or make online contributions through registries at Babies R Us and Walmart.

Collection sites in and near Aliso Viejo:

• Integrated Real Estate Resources, Inc. 36 Argonaut, Suite 130, Aliso Viejo
• YMCA South Coast Main Facility, 29831 Crown Valley Pkwy., Laguna Niguel
• YMCA Saddleback Valley Main Facility, 27341 Trabuco Circle, Mission Viejo
• PCM Professional Community Management, 23726 Birtcher Dr., Lake Forest

A complete list of collection sites can be found online. 

 "Vons and UPS are strong supporters of the 2011 Essentials for Young Lives donation drive. Nine Vons locations will be public drop-off sites for donations," said Carolyn Baker, director of community relations and public affairs for HomeAid of Orange County.

UPS will be helping with deliveries across the county. 

"UPS will be picking up donations from across the county," Baker said, "and delivering them to a warehouse, where volunteers will sort and package all the donations. UPS will then deliver all the donations to HomeAid's 16 service provider partners that provide aid and shelter to homeless families."

According to its website, donations will benefit the following nonprofits:  

• Anaheim Interfaith Shelter
• Casa Teresa 
• Families Forward
• Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service
•  H.I.S. House
• Human Options
• Interval House
• Isaiah House
• Laura's House
• Mary's Shelter
• Mercy House
• Orange County Rescue Mission
• Precious Life Shelter
• Thomas House
• Shelter for the Homeless
• Women's Transitional Living Center

This year, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens was named chairwoman of the drive.

"Sheriff Hutchens understands how important this donation drive is for the homeless mothers and their infants in our community," said Scott Larson, executive director of HomeAid Orange County. 

According to HomeAid of O.C. website, the organization collected 273,000 baby items and this year is hoping to collect more than 500,000.

"Families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. 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," Baker said.

There is a donation collection box outside of Integrated Real Estate Resources in Aliso Viejo. IRER owner Mike Goode and IRER director of financial analysis Cynthia Tessin both have sons in Boy Scout Troop 774. Scoutmaster Goode and Tessin wanted their sons to "give back" to the Building Industry Association and HomeAid.

"The BIA has long been a big supporter of Scouting, especially with the building of the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center in Orange. HomeAid is the philanthropic arm of the BIA. This year one of my sons made a presentation to the local El Camino Real Boy Scout District asking all the troops and packs in the area to conduct a drive," Tessin said.

HomeAid Orange County can be reached at 949-553-9510. Its mission is to "build and maintain dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives."