Christmas in prison? No tree. No carols. Sometimes you’re locked in your cell for the day because of a gang problem. You may get a box of cookies or stationery. People react differently — get hard. I’ve seen a lot of bad stuff. I never want to go back. The worst for me was not being able to see my son and daughter. I didn’t really want my kids to see me in prison, but I missed them.

I didn’t go to jail — didn’t get in trouble really — till my 40s. It was a string of problems. A divorce, my father died, I got laid off my job (of 12 years); I was depressed. I turned to drugs — heroin. I used up all my savings, got behind on my house payments, lost my house. At least I didn’t end up on the streets.

I moved in with my elderly mother in Fountain Valley to take care of her. I started shoplifting to make money. Did things I’d never done before. In and out of jail. When my mom went into long-term care, the family sold the house. I had nowhere to go.

I had grown up going to church. God led me to the Mission, to a Christian program, when I needed it most. What a blessing! I can’t tell you how much my life has changed. For an entire year I haven’t had a single craving for drugs! My ex-wife hadn’t let me see my kids for eight years. I just saw my daughter, and I’ll see my son next week! I don’t know where God is going to lead me, but I’m trusting Him! This Christmas will be blessed!

When I was little, my mom was taking drugs. My sister and I didn’t have food a lot of the time, so Mom would take us to Grandma’s to take care of us for awhile. She believed in God. That was the only time I had ever heard about God.

Then they sent us to our great aunt in California. She didn’t celebrate Christmas. So no tree, no gifts. I was eight years old. I knew what Christmas was because my friends were all getting gifts from Santa. But I knew there was no Santa.

My sister and I ended up in the foster care system, but we weren’t together. I hated not being able to see her. We were both good kids. No drugs or violence. But none of the counselors or social workers would help us see each other, or help us figure out how to get jobs, or plan for the future.

I got pregnant right away. I had no place to go. I found the House of Hope. Now I’m working and learning how to be a better mom. This year, my baby and I will spend Christmas at the House of Hope. It’s exciting, and they give you lots of gifts.

On November 17, 25 volunteers from Ambassadors Church (Buena Park) and Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda) teamed up with OCRM staff to bring a Thanksgiving blessing to 168 motel residents in Anaheim. They hand-delivered 94 Operation Hope food boxes filled with just the things that come in handy when you're on a tight budget.

In addition, some of the Rose Drive ladies distributed hand-crocheted blankets just in time for the upcoming winter months. Many people receiving the boxes were very open to receiving prayer for their needs as well. It was especially inspiring to hear people in such great need offer up prayers of thanksgiving for the little they had.

Thank you to Ambassadors and Rose Drive Friends Churches, those who packed the food boxes and the many who donated food to make this outreach possible.

Iwas adopted into a really good family — but somehow I was doing drugs at age 14, drinking at age 17. My parents tried everything, but they just never knew how to deal with me. I dropped out of high school, though I got my GED. After I was fired three times, I knew I needed re-hab. My mom got me a plane ticket out to California to go to rehab in Laguna Beach. I was 21.

Right before Christmas, I got kicked out of the half-way house and I started using again. I went down to the beach in San Clemente. It was cold. Some friends gave me some blankets. For three days I froze there. I didn’t care about Christmas at all.

I ran into someone I knew who told me where to get food. The lady working there gave me a bus pass to the Orange County Rescue Mission. I didn’t really go to church as a kid, so I didn’t really believe the Christian part of the program — but it made more sense than other religions.

I tried praying. I noticed that it made a difference. When I stopped praying I started screwing up again. I really want to change. I have a great counselor. I like the program and my parents are proud of me; but most important, God says I can do it! Now I know what Christmas is really about. With Jesus, this will be a good Christmas!

There was unusual excitement on the campus of Maranatha Christian Academy in early November when the kindergarten through sixth-grade classes competed in a Can Castle Food Drive to support the hungry and homeless of Orange County. The week-long drive began with an assembly in which the students viewed a video to whet their appetites for community service. The rest of the week was spent collecting as many canned goods as possible, vying to outdo the other classes.

On Friday, November 9, over 600 students gathered at Maranatha for part two of the competition: which class could build the best castle out of the collected cans. Everyone did an outstanding job, but the prizes went to the first graders (most creative) and the third graders (most majestic).

No matter which can castle was best, all of the students were rewarded by the knowledge that they had done their part to collect almost THREE TONS of food and the satisfaction that they had provided for the needs of hundreds of Orange County families.

Apparently, five-year-old Liana Moore didn't get the memo. After all, anyone knows that when it comes to BIG jobs like disaster relief, a mere kindergartener can do very little. But no one told her that. So when her parents told Liana about the recent fires, and the great personal loss that many families had suffered, she was moved with compassion — and decided to do something about it.

She asked her parents if she could collect clothing, toys and books from the families at her elementary school and give them to the victims of the fires. Liana's parents were excited about the plan, and proud that their daughter had come up with it. For a period of about a month, a simple flier was posted at her school and the response was immediate and generous. Liana wanted to make it a Thanksgiving gift so “they will have something to be thankful for even when they're sad they don't have their house.” So two weeks ago, the day before Thanksgiving, Liana and her family delivered the gifts to the OCRM warehouse.

Liana's story is proof positive that when it comes to caring about others, age is not a factor. Liana Moore may be little, but her heart is BIG — and that's what counts. Thank you, Liana!

Orange County Rescue Mission’s most recent building project, Hope Family Housing in Buena Park, is well on its way in the construction process. Recently, on Thursday, November 29, 2007, HomeAid Orange County, John Laing Homes, the Orange County Rescue Mission and the City of Buena Park hosted a Wall Raising Ceremony and the first walls were successfully raised for this important new project.

Partnership leaders, Steve Kabel, Dave Prolo and Eric Weinstein from John Laing Homes (who is the Builder Captain of the project) along with Scott Larson, HomeAid Orange County and Rick Warsinski, City of Buena Park and Jim Palmer presided over this much-anticipated event; the next milestone in the development’s construction process. HomeAid Orange County is the founding chapter of a national non-profit organization with the mission to build dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives.

“John Laing Homes has always believed that building homes and communities is an honorable profession. We are excited to be in a partnership with these outstanding leaders of our community. Together we will help to provide a solid foundation upon which the future residents of Hope Family Housing can move out of the cycle of homelessness to independent self-sufficient lives,” says Dave Prolo, president, John Laing Homes’ South Coast Division.

The estimated $5.4 million project has received financial support of $1.3 million from the Children and Families Commission of Orange County and $1 million from the Federal Home Loan Banks through Bank of America. In addition, over 80 consultants, suppliers and specialty contractors have donated their services or have made in-kind contributions.

Upon completion, Hope Family Housing – Buena Park will be a 17-townhome community which will ultimately provide long-term housing with supportive assistance to homeless families, many transitioning from motels throughout the county.

We are extremely grateful for the partnerships of these generous companies and individuals who give their gifts and time to make a lasting contribution in the lives of so many families who are in need!

This Thanksgiving, as most of us were enjoying the fellowship of family and friends seated around our tables, volunteers from The Gas Company joined other faithful volunteers at our Men’s Shelter and served the hundreds of men, women and children who came in seeking a hot Thanksgiving meal. Each year, The Gas Company gathers financial contributions as part of the Company’s Season of Giving program, so in addition to giving their day to serve the homeless and hungry, they presented a substantial monetary gift to support the work of the Orange County Rescue Mission!

For all of the services provided through The Gas Company, we are particularly thankful for the heart they have to give to those in need!

The children of the Silverado Elelmentary School gave thanks to the OC firefighters and the Orange County Rescue Mission today in Silverado Canyon. The kindergarten through sixth grade classes lined up in handmade costumes to state what they were truly thankful for. "I'm thankful we still have our school!" exclaimed a sixth grader as she looked up at the blackened remains of the hillside above the school.

Following the ceremony, the Orange County Rescue Mission served the feast they had prepared for the students, faculty, and family members of the Silverado Elelmentary School and the Silverado Chilren's Center. The annual Silverado Elementary Thanksgiving Feast is normally provided by the parents of the students in a "pot Luck" style gathering, but today they were pampered in a true Thanksgiving fashion!