Make an Impact With Your Donations This Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving, it is important to remember that there are many people who could use something to be thankful for. Around 4,700 people are homeless in Orange County and a whopping 11% of the population lives below the poverty line; that’s almost 350,000 people. As a result, canned food drives, donations, and volunteer work can really benefit those who have fallen on hard times. You can help make their season bright for just a few dollars and a stop by your local donation center. Here are a few centers that serve the Orange County area, as well as some tips so that your donations can go farther to help those in need.
Where to Serve: Donation Centers in OC
There are several donation centers and charitable organizations that serve Orange County.
South County Outreach is one of our favorite programs here at Conrey Insurance Brokers. This organization sponsors independence and helps those in need through food distribution, clothing vouchers, affordable childcare, and job skills training. In addition to being able to choose where monetary donations go, they offer many easy ways to donate, including by mail, in person, or online. For more information on the organization, their most needed items, or how to make monetary donations, click here.
Another outreach program that plays a role in helping local families is the Orange County Rescue Mission. In addition to offering transitional housing, meals, job training programs, and other resources, the rescue mission serves over 300,000 meals to needy families during the holiday season. A donation of just $1.50 helps them to provide a real Thanksgiving dinner to families in need and their Turkey Trot is a fun way for runners of all skill levels to help give back and raise awareness. For more information, visit them on their website.
Tips for Donating: How to Do the Most
- Canned and non-perishable donations are amazing gifts that can be used by families year-round, however, they are often high in sodium. If you are purchasing canned food at the store, consider looking for low sodium options or donating often forgotten items such as peanut butter.
- If you are cleaning out your pantry for donations, be sure to check the expiration dates on the cans.
- Consider making a monetary donation. Often times, rescue organizations have partnerships with local grocers and growers and can often procure a large amount of fresh, healthy food for a small amount of money. For this reason, the organization itself can often make better use of money that would otherwise go to canned foods.
Here at Conrey Insurance Brokers, we want to encourage you to support those who need a bit of extra help. The holidays are a great time to reflect on what we’re thankful for and how we can help those who may struggle with the things we often take for granted. Families of all circumstances, types, and sizes matter. We believe that whether a business or an individual, making a difference in our local community is one of the most important things we all can do; that’s The Conrey Difference.