Just two years ago, the Johnson family* felt they were living the good life. Tyrone, an engineer, and Antoinette, a nurse, made a good living and owned their own home. They went to church regularly and their three kids were thriving as mom homeschooled them. Then, Hurricane Katrina hit.

The family was smart enough to flee before the storm. As they moved from relative’s house to relative’s house, they got word of family members who were either missing or killed! Exhausted and in great need, they ended up in California — and found compassion and immediate help from people like you — through the Orange County Rescue Mission.

We helped them get into an apartment. They had nothing — no furniture, kitchenware or clothes. The emotional stress of so much loss, uncertainty and worry was affecting each of them. The children, who had been great students, were in public school for the first time — and were acting out and failing. They asked questions like, “Why did God let this happen to us? Is God punishing us?”

Tyrone went back to Louisiana to salvage their lives and found nothing but barriers to getting back on their feet. The insurance companies wouldn’t pay on the flood insurance, claiming it was the wind that did the damage. A year later the case is still in court, and there is no money for repairs. Is there any good news? Yes, people of faith reached out. We were here to help Antoinette with everything from groceries to prayer support. Back in New Orleans, church people helped families set up tents to live in — on the families’ own property. Once Tyrone found work, we were able to help Antoinette and the children move home.

It may be a tent, but it’s home. Antoinette says, “You were a beacon of light in our time of darkness. Every institution failed us, but you were there. If it wasn’t for that little place in the center of California, I don’t know what we would have done. Thank you.”

* Name changed to protect privacy.

On Saturday, September 30, the Orange County Rescue Mission partnered with six Ralph's grocery stores to conduct the first of four planned “Heart for Hunger” food drives. Approximately 5,000 pounds of food was collected and will go a long way towards fortifying our supplies for the upcoming holiday season. On behalf of the Least, the Last and the Lost of Orange County, OCRM extends it's hearty THANKS to the following people who made this drive such a great success:

• Store Volunteers — Concordia University Community Service, St. Marina Church, Socks from Jocks, Life Church, Calvary Chapel Living Word, Orange Coast Community Church, Accelerate Trainings, and God’s Girlz
• Transportation Volunteers — First Christian Church of Fountain Valley (they’ve provided transportation for the last three food drives!)
• Warehouse volunteers — Downey Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Fountain Valley Baptist Church, St. Marina Church and numerous individuals
• Starbucks, Edinger & Red Hill, and Peet’s Coffee, Tustin and Costa Mesa, for providing coffee and pastries for the morning volunteers
• Six Ralph's stores whose partnership made this food drive possible
• Last, but by no means least, the many shoppers who made room in their hearts (and their budgets) to care for the less fortunate!

If you would like to get involved with the next three food drives scheduled in 2007 (1/20, 5/12 & 9/29), call OCRM’s volunteer manager, Janet Marino, at (714) 247-4334, for more details.