Cecilia “Sally” Johnson Volunteer of the Month Sally is one of our most kind, patient, and dedicated volunteers. She started volunteering last school year for the United Kids After-School Program at Valencia Park Elementary. Her commitment to the program and to the children is an absolute blessing. For example, she is quick to learn the […]
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Granada Heights Friends Church When I stepped into Starbucks earlier in the year to meet with a friend and a pastor from her church, I had no idea of the opportunity that was going to unfold. We were meeting to discuss how to help equip Granada Heights Friends Church to become Trauma-Informed so […]
WHO is your community? by Chris Baeza For me, the community has been the students at Biola University for the last four years. Interestingly enough, I got off-campus very little in order to participate in initiatives that help out my community. The word “community” means “a group of people living in the same place or […]
Kathleen Dische Volunteer of the Month Kathleen Dische is the perfect example of servant leadership. Since 2016, she has volunteered at OC United, especially within our young adults THRIVE program. She is dedicated, selfless and extremely humble. Over the past three years, she has faithfully attended THRIVE nights, giving rides to young adults who wouldn’t […]
On Sunday, Aug 17th we partnered with Hope International to challenge their new incoming students to do a serve day together. The new students were all put into groups of 20 and were introduced to dorm life, the cafeteria, the campus and church on Sunday. After lunch, we had the joy of leading them into […]
HOME(less) ALONE Blog by Mike Carman Finding a problem is usually pretty easy to do. Finding a solution can be more difficult. And carrying out that solution more difficult still. Recognizing homelessness as a problem in our communities is pretty simple these days. However, effective answers that benefit all parties are tougher to articulate, and […]
One of the amazing realities of our culture at OC United is that the spouses of our team are “all in” as well. Casey has been married to Renae for 21 years and they have two beautiful girls they adopted 8 years ago, Diamond and LaRoyana. If you just met Casey you might at first […]
For anyone walking into our office for the first time, the response is always the same, “Wow! I love the look of your office! Who decorated it?” The answer is none other than our very own Lisa Gillis. We owe the “coolness” of our offices and the work space to Lisa Gillis. Lisa and her […]
We See You, Mothers. The image said “You are Invited to Join Us for a No-Stress Gathering!” It went on to describe a pampering environment with haircuts, nails, and other surprises. No one, not even me, could have predicted what those surprises were going to be. See, for foster, adoptive, and kinship mothers, Mother’s Day […]
May the 4th Be With You On Saturday May 4th, also known as Star Wars Day, close to 6,000 people throughout ten cities will be joining together. People from every sector of the city and all walks of life will be there: residents, businesses, city workers, elected officials, scouts, faith communities, youth groups, service clubs, […]