YMCA of Orange County Returning as Major Supporter of 2011 Campaign

Since 2009 the YMCA of Orange County has supported Essentials for Young Lives. We're excited to announce this outstanding community organization will again be a major supporter for the 2011 Campaign.

The YMCA of Orange County's vision is to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities in Orange County. Annually they serve 50,000 people through their programs which include: Afterschool Care, Aquatics, Camp, Community Services, Health & Wellness, Sports, Y-Guides & Princesses Parent-Child Programs and Youth Development.

Click here to see a video and learn more about the YMCA of Orange County.

View the video below to see the YMCA children share their thoughts on Essentials for Young Lives.

4th Annual Donation Drive

Thank you to the more than 80 companies, community organizations and individuals that generously volunteered their time and resources to help homeless mothers and their children. Click here to see more details. Your support in 2010 helped us collect:

• 102,229 diapers
• 157,093 baby wipes
• 9,413 jars of baby food, cereal, finger food, etc.
• 4,434 (hygiene items, strollers, car seats, blankets etc.)

2010 grand total is 273,169!!!! This is an 88% increase from the 2009 totals!!! Since 2008 we've collected 536,379 "essential" baby items and distributed these much needed donations to hundreds of homeless mothers and their infants in Orange County.

Unfortunately the needs continue to grow. Families are still the fasting growing segment of the homeless population. Our goal for 2011 is "500,000"

Please save the dates and help us reach (and even surpass) our goal.

2011 Essentials for Young Lives Campaign Dates:
Kick -Off: Saturday, April 29, 2011 at Irvine Spectrum Center®

Campaign Week: May 2 - 6, 2011

More details coming soon.

Press Conference At State Capitol

Monday, April 26, 2010 HomeAid in partnership with First 5/Children and Families Commission launched the first Essentials for Young Lives drive in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. View the press conference.

State Legislators Kick-Off Essentials for Young Lives at State Capital

Essentials for Young Lives was launched at the California State Capitol. At a press conference today Senator Lou Correa expressed his personal support, "Many families in California have been affected by this economic recession. They have lost their jobs, their homes and some of those affected are the most vulnerable among us. Please open your hearts to help. What seems like small things to us, mean a great deal to them." Read more...

Essentials for Young Lives Drives Public Drop-Off Sites

Across the United States approximately 1.5 million children in the course of a year have experienced the feeling of not having a home. In California, more than 100,000 homeless children are younger than six years old.

This Mother's Day please take a moment to help homeless mothers and their children. Donate "essential" baby items: diapers, baby wipes, baby food and baby products (wash, lotion, etc.)

Monday, April 26 thru Thursday, April 29

Current Drop-off locations:

Aliso Viejo:

Integrated Real Estate Resources, Inc., 36 Argonaut, Suite 130

Chino Hills
Office of Assemblyman Curt Hagman, 13920 City Center Drive, Suite 260

Garden Grove -

Habitat OC Restore, 12827 Harbor Blvd.

Huntington Beach

Office of Assemblyman Jim Silva, 17011 Beach Blvd., Suite 570

Huntington Beach Mazda, 16800 Beach Blvd.

Irvine -

Office of Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, 3 Park Plaza, Suite 275
Building Industry Association, 17744 Sky Park Circle, Suite 170

Change a Life Foundation, 5 Corporate Park, Suite 210

LSA Associates, Inc. 20 Executive Park Suite 200

Michael Brandman Associates, 220 Commerce, Suite 200

Voyagers Bible Church, 6000 Irvine Center Drive

Laguna Niguel

ASID Orange County 23811 Aliso Creek Road, Suite 108

Lake Forest-

PCM, 23726 Birtcher Drive

Newport Beach -

Metro Estates, 120 Newport Center Drive, Suite 160

Tri-Pointe Homes, Inc. 20201 SW Birch St., Suite 100

Orange

Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1855 N. Orange-Olive Road

Santa Ana -

Cal Pac Sheet Metal/OC Metals, 2720 S. Main Street, Unit B

OC Hyundai, 1405 Auto Mall Drive

Habitat OC Restore, 2200 South Ritchey

Tustin -

Transpacific Management Services, 15661 Redhill Avenue, Suite 201

Tustin Mazda, 28 Auto Center

YMCA Orange County Click here to see the complete list YMCA drop off locations.

Villa Park

City of Villa Park, 17855 Santiago Blvd.

To learn more about becoming a drop-off center click here.

Homeless Moms and Their Babies Need Your Help - Hold an Essentials for Young Lives Drive April 26 -29

Mothers and children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. They need our help. This Mother's Day take a moment to help homeless mothers and their children.

Hold an Essentials for Young Lives drive in your company/club/school/church OR be a community drop location. Your generous efforts will help hundreds of homeless mothers in our community have "essential" items (diapers and baby wipes) for their babies.

Kick-Off Saturday, April 24 at Irvine Spectrum Center®

Collection dates are April 26 - 29

Click here for more details

Register Online and start planning your drive.

2010 Essentials for Young Lives

April 26 - 29, 2010

Mothers and children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. They need our help. Hold an Essentials for Young Lives Drive in your company/organization OR be a community "Essentials" drop location.



It's easy:

1. Designate a collection site in your office.


2. Ask colleagues to donate "essential" baby items OR


3. Allow us to publicize your company/organization as an "Essentials" drop location.


4. HomeAid Orange County will pick-up your donations and deliver them to 16 HomeAid service provider partners serving homeless children and their families.

Essentials Needed:

• Diapers (sizes newborn to toddler)


• Baby wipes


• Baby food


• Baby products (wash, lotion, etc.)


• Baby bottles

Collection Dates:

Monday, April 26 - Thursday, April 29, 2010

To sign up or for more information email Carolyn Baker at carolyn@homeaidoc.org