Celebrating Successes in 2025:
A Year of Community, Compassion, and Impact

At We Care Orange County, this year has been defined by connection — neighbors helping neighbors, volunteers stepping forward with open hearts, and donors like you making it possible for families to stay housed, fed, and hopeful.

Together, here’s what we’ve accomplished:

A Completely Transformed Pantry

We turned our food pantry into a client-choice shopping experience, giving families the dignity to choose the food and household items that best meet their needs. This shift has brought comfort, empowerment, and relief to hundreds of local households.

Eviction Prevention That Changes Lives

With your support, and without government funding, We Care helped 30 families avoid homelessness by providing emergency rent and utility assistance and case management. Each month, more of our neighbors have remained safely in their homes — stable, protected, and able to move forward with confidence.

Back-to-School Support for Local Students

Thanks to generous donors, volunteers, and partners, 25 students received backpacks and essential school supplies, and additional students received new clothing, shoes, and bedding. You helped them begin the school year with pride and possibility.

Powerful Volunteer Moments

Our Pantry Power Up Day, part of Serve Los Al, brought together volunteers from Neighborhood Church, local residents, and Sunburst Academy cadets to stock shelves, organize supplies, and prepare the pantry for hundreds of visits. Their energy and teamwork continue to inspire us.

Holiday Food & Gift Distributions

This season, We Care is ensuring 50 families enjoy warm meals and joyful celebrations:

• Thanksgiving meals distributed to local households
• Christmas food boxes and Christmas gifts for children and seniors in need

Your generosity makes the holidays brighter for those facing incredibly difficult circumstances.

Stronger Community Partnerships

This year brought extraordinary engagement from schools, banks, churches, and civic groups. From food drives to volunteer days to generous donations, our community continues to step up in meaningful and heartfelt ways. 

We are especially grateful to Aegean Design Studio, National Charity League, Las Amigas, Las Campanas, Los Alamitos Photography Club, Woman’s Club of Rossmoor, Woman’s Club of Cypress, Woman’s Club of Leisure World, Womans’ Club of Seal Beach, West Cypress Church, Neighborhood Church Los Alamitos, Neighborhood Church Cypress, Good Shepherd Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Hedwig Church, St. Vincent De Paul, St. Francis Guild, Landell Elementary School, Arnold Elementary School, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Community Church of Leisure World, Leisure World Garden Club, Sunburst Academy, Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Cypress, Bank of America, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Numerous Boy Scout Troops and Girl Scout Troops, National League of Young Men, Cypress Kiwanis Club, Christ Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church Cypress, First Baptist Church Los Alamitos, Hopkinson Elementary School, Lee Elementary School, Los Alamitos Elementary School, McGaugh Elementary School, Rossmoor Elementary School, Weaver Elementary School, McAuliffe Middle School, Oak Middle School, Los Alamitos High School, Rossmoor Homeowners Association, City of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach Pickle Ball, Food Finders, Cypress Chamber of Commerce, Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce, Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club of Stanton, City of Stanton, California State University Long Beach, KWA Ministries, DelRe Foundation, Nate Trimmer and the Omnibeat team, Maria West and the From the Heart Fundraising Committee, our wonderful Board of Directors and our dedicated Food Pantry Volunteers who maintain the food pantry and greet and serve the clients with respect and compassion.

Welcoming New Leaders

We are thrilled to welcome five outstanding community members to our Board of Directors:

• Marcia Evans
• Debbie Neary
• Christy Putnam
• Shelly Bailey
• Jeff Dronkers

Their compassion, expertise, and commitment strengthen our mission and expand our capacity to serve.

You Make This Possible

We do all of this without government funding. Everything we provide — food, utilities, rent assistance, holiday support, dignity, and hope — comes directly from the kindness of people like you. Every can of food, every hour volunteered, every dollar donated becomes stability and relief for someone facing hardship.

Thank you for believing in this work and standing with We Care Orange County.