Andriena says the biggest difference for her being at the House of Hope is she doesn’t have to be afraid. She no longer sees violence and danger around her. She is also seeing a whole way of life she never really knew about. Andriena did not have a drinking or drug problem, but she knew she wanted something better for her son.

Raised in Costa Mesa by a single mom, Andriena and her brother and sister didn’t have much guidance growing up. Here she is learning parenting skills. She is also learning how to study and think about the future. She is working on her attitude and feels she’s becoming more mature every day. She thinks a lot of the change has come because she has become a Christian. The change is so obvious her family has noticed and wants to hear about this spiritual life she’s found — and see if it could work for them.

Andriena's biggest motivation is her two-year-old son, Axel. She wants to give him a different life — never exposed to violence or drugs. She wants him to grow up in a healthy environment, live in a good neighborhood and go to good schools.

Thanks to generous people like you, Andriena has hope this Easter. She has a chance to make a new life for herself and her son. Thank you!

When you've lost everything, can Easter make a difference?

At age 60, I was on the street for the first time in my life,” says Craig. “I was living in the bushes. I fell down and knocked out my teeth. I couldn’t even stand to look at myself in the mirror.” Just a few years earlier, Craig had a home, swimming pool, a great government job. Then over a one-year period, his father died, his sister died and he got laid off from his job. “Before that I would have called myself happy,” he says. “I had a lot of material things, but after the loss of my family none of those things mattered.”

Feeling desperately alone and miserable, Craig turned to drinking and drugs to drown the pain. Instead, it drowned him. It took five years for him to slide all the way to the street. He had no idea how to live there. “I hated the way people looked at me,” he explained. “And I just couldn’t beg on the streets for change. It was rock bottom.” So Craig decided to kill himself — “I’ll jump in front of a bus!” he vowed. On his way, he walked past the Mission. He heard stories about redemption, love and new life — and he felt God reach out to him.

“I truly believed God was giving me opportunity to live, to get rid of my sins,” he beams. “I asked God to forgive me and come into my heart and soul. I now have God with me all the time.” Craig says he no longer feels lonely. He’s excited to be going to the dentist for a new set of teeth. But most importantly, he is building a foundation for his life — one that will withstand all that life throws at him.

“To me, Easter means two things,” he concludes. “One, it’s Christ giving up Himself for our sins. And two, Easter means new life!”

Thank you. Your gifts are making a life-saving difference — giving men, women and families a chance to make a fresh start. God bless you!

The Orange County Rescue Mission’s Hurtt Family Health Clinic recently received two large pallets of medical and dental supplies donated by Henry Schein Cares, the global program of Henry Schein, Inc. Henry Schein Cares believes in “helping health happen” by supplying healthcare products to non-profit community-based clinics and healthcare professionals. Henry Schein has been ranked first in social responsibility in its industry for three consecutive years in Fortune’s list of America’s Most Admired Companies.

As the Hurtt Family Health Clinic expands its dental care services to the homeless and poor at its new clinic site at the Village of Hope, the $5,000 in dental and healthcare items will be especially needed and valued. Thank you, Henry Schein Cares, for “helping health happen” here at the Orange County Rescue Mission.

The new year has brought much progress to Hope Family Housing — Buena Park. The MEPS (rough mechanical, electric, plumbing and structural) inspections are complete, allowing drywall work to begin, which affords a sneak-preview of the living spaces that the residents will have to enjoy. In addition, lathing, roofing and stuccoing are underway. When these items are completed, cabinets and trim work will commence.

We continue to search for additional companies to partner with us in order to continue softening the cost of development. It is really great to see the continued support from the building industry in spite of the softened market. This project is well on its way to providing hope and security to many.

In commemoration of Catholic Schools Week, and in keeping with a desire to bring relief to the homeless of Orange County, St. Anthony Claret Catholic School in Anaheim conducted a Can Castle Food Drive the week of January 28 to February 1. Driven by the knowledge that their efforts would help feed the hungry, 317 preschoolers through 8th-graders collected canned and dry goods in excess of 1,200 pounds throughout the week.

At the end of the week, each class competed to see which one could build the biggest and the best castle from the cans they had collected. The 7th-graders won the prize for the largest can castle and the 4th-graders won the prize for the most creative.

Look here for more information about how to organize your own Can Castle Food Drive. If you have any questions, please send us an e-mail or call (714) 247-4326. Thank you!