Women for Hope was established in 2018 with the intent to educate, raise support, and make a positive impact in assisting those homeless men, women, and children that are seeking life change through Orange County Rescue Mission. It is a group where you can decide and design your level of involvement – from simply writing a check, attending events, or volunteering… you choose what works best for you.

This is not another committee with long meetings and fundraising. It’s a simple, direct, tangible way to give hope to those who have lost hope.

With homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues challenging our communities, a small group of women came together to discuss how to financially support the transformational programs that address these community challenges. This initial steering committee included Shana Conzelman, Jackie Nowlin, Heidi Mendoza, and Debbie Grover.

Orange County Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization that delivers hope and restoration to homeless men, women, children, and veterans. Headquartered in Tustin with campuses throughout Southern California, the Rescue Mission serves approximately 1,579,478 meals and provides 145,993 shelter and bed nights per year, and has long-term housing programs focused on transitioning homeless individuals and families out of homelessness and into economic self-sufficiency without the use of government funds.

Each year in January, we gather for a members-only Winter Tea. At this tea, we vote on how to allocate and grant these funds to the many opportunities that are presented to us. In the fall, we host a special luncheon for members to bring their friends who might like to join.

Additional optional activities could include Valentine’s or Mother’s Day events for homeless mothers at Village of Hope and Octoberfest for our homeless veterans at Tustin Veterans Outpost.

Thousands of lives have already been impacted. To date, the impact from our members has been amazing, to say the least. Since our first year in 2018, we have raised and directly granted $528,859.00. In addition, members and their families have provided an additional $2.5 million in donations to further the mission of the Rescue Mission.

The donations have supported and advanced the missions of: the Hope Harbor teen scholarship program, the vocational training & job workshop programs for homeless adults, the Chaplain’s salary at the Tustin Veterans Outpost, the sponsorship of the Strong Beginning’s anti-sex trafficking program, equipment for the Chili Van Outreach, and upgraded refrigeration and freezer for the Double R Ranch, just to mention a few.