OC Rescue Mission Seeks To Ensure Homeless Children Have a Halloween to Remember; Needs to Collect Nearly 100 Costumes

The Orange County Rescue Mission is urgently seeking the community’s help to provide nearly 100 Halloween costumes for its record number of homeless children living at the Village of Hope, the Rescue Mission’s transitional living facility.

“Homelessness continues to rise throughout Orange County and children are often the innocent victims of this vicious cycle,” says Orange County Rescue Mission President Jim Palmer. “We currently have 93 children living at the Village of Hope and it is our job to ensure that they not only receive basic everyday necessities, but are provided the opportunity to engage in normal childhood experiences such as trick-or-treating.”

Palmer explains that many of these children have experienced traumatic life events that children their age should never have to encounter, which is why creating opportunities to be social and enjoy a common interest among other children their age is crucial to their well-being and development.

“In fact, participating in social events like trick-or-treating can significantly impact a child’s self-esteem, academic performance, and social skills down the road,” says Palmer. “Studies show that children who play and interact with others have increased social competence and emotional maturity. At the Rescue Mission, we want to foster environments that help to build these social ties and create positive memories to last these children a lifetime.”

The Orange County Rescue Mission is seeking a total of 93 different costumes and up to 500lbs of candy for the upcoming “Trunk or Treat” community event being organized by Mission Bible Church, and taking place on Monday, October 31 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Rescue Mission. The event, which is open to the public, is a spin on traditional trick-or-treating, where the community comes together and parks their cars in a designated parking lot, turning their trunks into candy stations. The event will feature music, games, prizes, contests, a dunk tank, bounce house, and craft stations for kids, among other activities.

“For many of these children, this will be the first time they are able to dress up and celebrate this holiday,” explains Palmer. “With the support of the local community and Mission Bible Church, we can all help to ensure that each and every one of these children doesn’t go without and has a Halloween they will always remember.”

The Orange County Rescue Mission is asking the local community to donate costumes for boys and girls ranging from newborn to 8th grade.

Those who wish to donate costumes or candy may drop off donations at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope located at 1 Hope Drive in the city of Tustin, California or contact Kayleigh Roenicke at 714-247-4374. The donation warehouse is open between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.