YMCA of Orange County Gives Holiday Gifts to Local Families

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Dec. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- The YMCA continued its tradition of giving during the holiday season by collecting and delivering Holiday Care Bags filled with donated items such as home-made blankets, socks, scarves, games, notebooks, lotion, chapstick and other items that will help those in need stay warm during the winter months and put smiles on their faces.  Nearly 3,000 of the red tote bags will be delivered to low-income families, homeless families, and senior citizens by Christmas day.

One YMCA volunteer had this to say about the annual campaign, “Everyone who gave to this project is so generous. It is a great example of what the Y is all about.”  Organizations including Momentum Group, Hilton Irvine, MRC-Smart Technology Solutions (A Xerox Company), City of Irvine Youth High School Action Team, Tustin High School American Red Cross Club, MBK Real Estate Companies, Capital Group, and American Heritage Girls Troop CA0356 were all amongst the generous groups that helped collect items and make home-made tie-blankets.

An extra touch was added to Cares Bags specifically delivered to senior centers - an activity book with puzzles, word searches, and jokes, all written and created by YMCA Summer Camp Program kids.  Download the Activity Book here.

Collections from the Laguna Niguel YMCA fitness center and surrounding child care centers worked cooperatively with the South Shores Church to distribute Care Bags to Meals on Wheels and a nearby homeless shelter that hands out gifts to those who stay on Christmas Eve.

In Mission Viejo, bags were distributed to Age Well Senior Services, which provides services to 10 senior centers throughout Orange County, and local assisted living facility Atria Del Sol.  Members of the Fullerton community had their generous donations brought to Charity's Closet in Placentia, Pathways of Hope in Fullerton, and senior centers nearby.

The Newport Senior Center, Orangewood Children and Family Center, and local ministry Northeast of the Well, are also among the community organizations to receive a delivery of Holiday Care Bags to be distributed to those in need.  Care Bags were also collected and stuffed by Y members and other community members and given to families and seniors in need at our local Y's and in small group homes across Orange County.  The tradition has extended past the boundaries of Orange County this year.  With help from local girl scouts and community groups, donations were collected and delivered in our newest service areas; San Gabriel Valley and Riverside County’s City of Murrieta.

Take a look at this video from the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana where a large delivery of Care Bags was handed out.

https://youtu.be/MjY1PqguGhM



Campaigns such as the Holiday Care Bag drive are an essential part of the YMCA’s mission, vision, and values.  Experience, strong relationships and presence in neighborhoods across Orange County allows the Y to offer support for those in need as well as opportunities to give back.

If you would like to make a year-end tax deductible donation to help support community and service learning programs like this, please visit ymcaoc.org/donate-today.

To see photos from the Care Bag collection and distribution, click here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1105940719436860.1073742018.193191140711827&type=3

Learn more about the YMCA’s service-learning projects and other community strengthening efforts at ymcaoc.org

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ABOUT YMCAOC: At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y serves Orange County, Riverside County, and San Gabriel Valley through seven (7) Health & Wellness locations (Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Murrieta, and Santa Ana).  With an additional 150 after school programs, summer camps, sports & swim programs, Adventure Guides parent/child groups, and programs for youth and adults with special needs, YMCAOC is committed to serving our growing and diverse community needs.

YMCA staff and volunteers celebrate and honor common values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring by infusing character development into the foundation and practice of all our programs. From youth basketball and swim classes to fitness programs and resident camp, Y programs build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The YMCA of Orange County is a nonprofit, charitable organization that serves the entire community. Donations support our scholarship program and Our Promise – To strive to keep programs open for all. Whether you are looking to get fit, give back, or meet new friends, the Y has something for you! JOIN PLAY GIVE VOLUNTEER www.ymcaoc.org  www.ymcarc.org  www.ymcasgv.org