Yesterday more than 3,000 toys were handed out at Lion's Park in Costa Mesa. The line was at least 300-400 people long for most of the day! The children were so excited to receive 2-3 presents each. Parents were beyond thankful that their children would not go without gifts for Christmas. Santa Claus was in full spirit visiting with all of the children!
Click (here) for pictures.
We need to hit our goal! So many hungry and homeless people are counting on us! After all, 20% are seniors (as old as 93!) and 40% are children!
You can donate by two ways...
1. Click the Paypal link on the right hand side of this website page and make a contribution by Paypal
2. Make a check out to Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and send to:
Avalon Properties c/o Corey Donaldson, 1927 Harbor Blvd #610, Costa Mesa Ca 92627
Yesterday was nothing short of amazing! With over 200+ volunteers we completed everything we set out to do...
In addition, we had arts & crafts, face painters, bounce house, snow cone machine, slush machines and full catering by one of the top chefs... Master Chef Lorrie! Everybody was definitely exhausted at the end of the day but felt so good!
There are so many sponsors that helped out in this effort including Uhaul, Black & Decker, Hurley, Quiksilver, Nike, Marrakesh, Costa Mesa Power Honda, Awesome Bounce, Independent Trading, Rainbow Sandals, Big Studio Silk Screening, 944, OC Greer, Starbucks, Peet's Coffee, High Times, El Ranchito, Trader Joe's and the Yoga Studio.
I will be posting pictures in the next few days!
We Need your help in making $40,000 in 40 Days a realization. We are getting near to the end of the 40 Days and every person and every dollar counts! By now, hopefully you realize after reading the blog daily that the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen is a lot more than just a Soup Kitchen. Not only do they provide a hot meal 7 days a week, tutor 45 students a week and provide toiletry items weekly but more importantly give people hope!
We Need your Donation! Make a Difference!
You can donate by two ways...
1. Click the Paypal link on the right hand side of this website page and make a contribution by Paypal
2. Make a check out to Someone Cares and send to:
Avalon Properties c/o Corey Donaldson, 1927 Harbor Blvd #610, Costa Mesa Ca 92627
Please make the donation now as more than 350 homeless and hungry people a day depend on your generosity!
If you need motivation to donate click (here).
Calvin is a 84 year old who served his country in the Army and then later worked in the insurance industry for 33 years in the claims department. Life was good until he was replaced by a person half his age and half the salary. At age 60 he found himself struggling to find a job and work towards a safe, secure retirement. His work prospects were definitely limited due to his age. He found several part time jobs but nothing stable and paid well.
With a small retirement and Social Security, Calvin finds it difficult to afford a nutritious meal daily. His wife passed away a couple of years ago so not only does he struggle in retirement but also very lonely.
The Someone Cares Soup Kitchen has allowed Calvin to have his dignity and respect. He eats a hot, nutritious meal daily and takes home food from the Soup Kitchen for breakfast and lunch. In addition, he is able to connect/socialize with a lot of people that find themselves upon hard times as well. Calvin said that he finds comfort knowing that he is not alone and is able to talk to others that can relate to his situation.
Calvin is not unique... 20% of the hungry and homeless that eat daily at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen are seniors. I asked Calvin if he ever thought while growing up that retirement would be such a struggle. His answer was definitely not!
Please take a moment and look into your heart and donate so that the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen can continue to help Calvin and the 60+ other seniors have a hot, nutritious meal daily!
Margarite is 93 years old and eats at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen daily. She lives in Bethel Towers, a senior community project. Once a month she goes around the tables at the Soup Kitchen asking all the homeless and hungry to donate their change so that they can give back to the Soup Kitchen.
Margarite has a huge heart and feels so fortunate to have the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen. Someone Cares not only provides her a daily warm, nutritious meal but also a place where she has friends and feels welcome. She is one amazing woman!
There are so many amazing companies that provide food daily to the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen! Many of the companies that you frequent weekly and don't even realize how much they give back to the community and how giving they are to the Soup Kitchen. One of the biggest donors of food is Trader Joe's in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. If it was not for Trader Joe's it would be very difficult for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen to operate on the shoestring budget that it does. Several other large grocery stores that give so generously are the Irvine Ranch Market and Albertson's. In addition, Hoag Hospital also provides an enormous amount of food each week.
There are many other companies that provide food, they include... El Ranchito, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Sprinkles, Marie Callender's, Peet's Coffee, Costco, VA Hospital, Newport Harbor High School, Yum Yum Donuts, Zinc Cafe, Susie Cake, Pain Du Monde, Entenmanns, Five Sweets and many, many more!
Someone Cares also receives food from local can drives as well as individuals that bring by food/cans wanting to give back
Santa will be there with his sled (The Ultimate Limo Bus) and all of his elves spreading christmas cheer. We will have several well known catering companies providing delicious appetizers and DJ Johnny Vegas will be spinning the tunes!
Saturday, December 19th
Costa Mesa Honda
2888 Harbor Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA
12noon - 4pm
You must RSVP for this event by sending an email to rsvp@avalonproperties.net. This event sells out quickly. Each person (excluding children) needs to send a confirmation email to RSVP for this event.
... $14,180!!! More than 200 people with huge hearts attended the event! Dj Johnny Vegas was spinning the tunes until well past 10pm. Woody's Wharf was so generous with the appetizer spread and making a donation in the amount of 20% of the bar sales. We had several media outlets including OC Greer covering the event. We had more than 40 silent auction items including a signed USC football by Tom Carrol, a night out on the Ultimate Limo Bus and a Fender guitar signed by all of the members of Linkin Park!
Please click (here) for the pics!
Thank you so much to everybody that attended and gave so generously!
We will have 200+ people with huge hearts! Please let your family, friends, co-workers know! It will be super fun! You can definitely make a Difference this Holiday Season for the Homeless and Hungry!
How cold and wet was it yesterday? At times a torrential downpour! Most people I know didn't even want to leave their house (me included!) Actually the high was 54 degrees and low 38 degrees.
Yesterday I went to the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen to take several people on a tour of the facility. When I arrived there was a line of people waiting outside for an open seat in the dining room to eat a hot meal. Inside the dining room was filled with so many people that were beyond thankful to get out of the rain/cold weather (even if it was only for an hour) to eat a hot meal and bowl of soup. Some people yesterday were lucky enough to find refuge in a car, under an awning or a giving person letting them into a warm/dry space. This is what so many people that go to the Soup Kitchen have to encounter on a daily basis especially in the winter.
The Soup Kitchen not only gives out warm clothing but helps provide people with sleeping bags, rain ponchos and umbrellas during the harsh weather bouts.
The Someone Cares Soup Kitchen is so much more than just a Soup Kitchen!!
There are only 4 days left to have your donation to be doubled for the Someone Cares Soup kitchen. The offer by our very generous donor and friend of the Soup Kitchen expires this Thursday, December 10th. He is matching all donations $1 for $1 (up to $10,000). Your donation will help so many people in need! For the next 4 days your donation will help twice as many!!
Please go now to the right hand side of this website and make a donation by Paypal or you can send a check made out to Someone Cares (mail to Avalon Properties c/o Corey Donaldson, 1927 Harbor Blvd #610, Costa Mesa, CA 92627).
Make a Difference this Holiday Season for the Homeless and Hungry!
We are at $19,200 as of this morning!! All of the Donations are rolling in at an amazing rate!
Please watch these two very special picture collages to see all of the people you are helping...
Someone Cares Thanksgiving Dinner (click here)
Someone Cares Tutoring Center (click here)
If you have not already contributed please reach into your heart and Make a Difference this Holiday Season for so many people. If you have contributed, please let all of your friends, family, co-workers know about the $40,000 in 40 Days Campaign. Every person and every dollar counts! It will mean the difference between success and failure in reaching our $40,000 goal!
All donations until December 10th will be matched $1 for $1 by a very generous donor and friend of the Soup Kitchen. So your donation is doubled! You will make double the impact!!
It amazes me in Merle Hatleberg's (founder) infinite wisdom of how she could make the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen even more powerful in the community! She started the after school tutoring program eight years ago and the impact has been tremendous on the individual students, their families, the Someone Cares staff and the community as a whole. The principal/teachers at Pomona Elementary school identify students that are falling behind in the class curriculum and need help.
Each year, 45 students enter into the after school tutoring program. There are three hours of instruction/tutoring (3pm - 6pm, Monday - Thursday). The first hour is kindergarten, 2nd hour 1st and 2nd graders and third hour 3rd and 4th graders. Each hour will have a 5 to 1 teaching ratio (there are 3 permanent teachers on staff). The tutoring program is committed to providing individualized instruction to increase reading, math, spelling and english levels.
At the beginning of the school year, Someone Cares Tutoring determines the level of reading, spelling and math of the child to identify areas to focus for improvement. The focus of the tutoring staff is to increase proficiency in the areas to be determined. Not only is this with a lot of focus and coordination among the staff but with a lot of love!
The teachers are amazing! All three have huge hearts and are so loving and patient with the children. Betty who heads up the program has volunteered with Someone Cares Soup Kitchen for 19 years! About 5 years ago a position with the tutoring program became available and she knew this was her calling as she had spent 13 years in education previously. She has been the engine to the Tutoring program ever since! Betty is supported by Wendy, another veteran in education. Wendy has been with the Someone Cares tutoring program for 4 years and previously was a teacher/administrator and wrote educational books. Felicia the third teacher has been with the tutoring program for a year and Betty raves about her ability to connect with the children and make a difference in their lives.
Many companies and organizations see the amazing work that the Someone Cares Tutoring program is having on these 45 children. Second Harvest Food Bank provides an after school meal that includes milk, a piece of fruit, a source of protein and a snack. Last year, an organization provided each student a backpack filled with school supplies for the start of classes. Many other companies and organizations get involved by donating gift certificates, books and items that the tutoring program can use to be more successful.
I asked all three teachers (Betty, Wendy and Felicia) what was their most favorite memory from their time with the Someone Cares Tutoring program. They all had the same answer... to see how the kids progress by leaps and bounds as well as the effect that each one of children has on them! I could tell that each child has touched all three of their hearts. After spending two days at the Tutoring Center I realized very quickly that Betty, Wendy and Felicia have one thing in common... the love and affection for each child as an individual and truly wanting them to succeed!
Please click (here) for a short video of the amazing kids and teachers I met during my two days at the Someone Cares Tutoring program. It will be sure to bring a smile on your face!
Please join us for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen Ultimate Happy Hour Fundraiser at Woody's Wharf on Wednesday, December 9th from 6pm - 9pm. We will have 200 people in attendance, delicious appetizer spread and DJ Johnny Paris spinning the tunes! We will have 40+ Silent Auction items and some special surprises! See you Wednesday!!
Please look deep into your heart and help us reach our $40,000 goal. Right now, every dollar is matched so your donation is worth double to the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen! You can make even a bigger difference this Holiday Season!
Please take a look at this short photo compilation... it is very heartwarming! (Click here)
Lorrie is nothing short of AMAZING! She is the backbone to the Soup Kitchen. Every day she does the impossible... to feed 350+ people a hot, nutritious meal not knowing what food she will have to cook with until that morning and what volunteers will be there to help her! This would be a daunting task for anybody but not Lorrie! Every day the Soup Kitchen relies upon donated food from grocery stories, restaurants, hospitals, etc to use as ingredients for the meals that she prepares. She has volunteers that need to fulfill volunteer hours required by local high schools, court and probation. She also has people wanting to give back by donating their time.
Every day, Lorrie arrives at 9am to get ready for the Lunch meal served from 1pm - 4pm. Lorrie does all the cooking and has the volunteers prep the food, clean the pots/pans and help assist. Sometimes she has professional chefs donate their time and she quickly puts them to work cooking their special dishes.
Some of her favorite soups to cook are Split Pea, Abondigas and Potato Cheese Brocolli. Every day she uses the 25 gallon soup pot to make one of her delicious hearty soups. Lorrie said that her #1 ingredient into the Soup is Love! After being around her for more than 5 minutes this is very evident!
Some of the main dishes that are huge hits with the people that come to the Soup Kitchen are Steak & Chicken fajitas, Lamb & Chicken Curry, Salmon with Cilantra & Ginger and White Chicken Enchiladas. Every day she makes a fresh green salad and fresh fruit salad to go along with the main entree and soup.
Lorrie takes a number of things into account when cooking for the homeless and hungry. One would be that more times than not they have teeth in bad repair. She needs to cut the vegetables into smaller pieces so it will be easier to chew. She also thinks about the nutritional content as she cooks for homeless/hungry... seniors represent 20% of visitors and children 40%. For some this will be the only meal of the day so she needs to make sure it is hearty enough to carry them over to the next day.
The most amazing thing about Lorrie is that she is a self taught cook. She has been working at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen for almost 10 years. She has an extraordinary energy and able to multi task like nobody I have ever seen. Most of all she has one of the biggest hearts ever!! Everybody absolutely loves her from the volunteers to the homeless/hungry! She is truly an AMAZING person and Chef!
An amazingly generous donor who donated $10,000 last year has done it again for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen! This year he is going to match all donations through December 10th $1 for $1. This means all donations will be doubled in terms of what the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen will receive! He will match up to $10,000!!
Your Donation is More Important than EVER!!!
Please make your donation today as we want to take advantage of all $10,000 that this generous donor if offering. Every dollar is critical for the Soup Kitchen during this holiday season! Please let your family, friends, work colleagues, etc. know about the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and let them know their donation
You can donate by two ways...
1. Click the Paypal link on the right hand side of this website page and make a contribution by Paypal
2. Make a check out to Someone Cares and send to:
Avalon Properties c/o Corey Donaldson, 1927 Harbor Blvd #610, Costa Mesa Ca 92627
Please make the donation now as more than 350 homeless and hungry people a day depend on your generosity!
Today the Soup Kitchen served an amazing holiday meal complete with all of the fixings to the hungry and homeless. The dining room was beautifully decorated and all of the volunteers were excited to give back. There had to be 75 volunteers in total with quite a few being children.
The entrance line to get into the dining room wrapped around the building. Once the doors were open, the volunteers were quickly into action serving the guests making sure their dining experience was great. The volunteers definitely were excited and happy to be part of this amazing meal!
The hungry and homeless were from 3 months to 92 years old. Many were families as well as seniors. Everybody just loved the hot meal and all of the favorite desserts!
Please click (here) for pictures of the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen Thanksgiving dinner.
Leilani has always known the Soup Kitchen. She is only 12 but has had to grow up quickly. The Soup Kitchen has provided her a nutritious meal, a sense of security and the only constant element in her life that she has ever known. Her mom, Sharon had a difficult decision to make when she was pregnant. Her family did not want her to have the baby and as a result disowned her. Leilani's father left as soon as he knew Sharon was pregnant. Sharon's world was very quickly spiraling out of control.
As she tells me about her life and how she found the Soup Kitchen, tears start rolling down her face when she talks about how much Someone Cares has done for her and how all of the staff has always been there for her in time of need. Sharon talks about over the last 12 years "dumpster diving" in order to find living items, cans to redeem and toys as Leilani was growing up. Luckily Someone Cares Soup Kitchen has always been there with a hot, nutritious meal and a big heart!
Sharon said at times she has been ready to give up but her daughter has kept her going. The Soup Kitchen has given her a constant in her life that provides a sense of security and comfort. When nobody else was there (family and baby's father) she always found a warm hug and a caring ear at the Soup Kitchen.
Sharon and Leilani have been able to secure an apartment with HUD assistance however she has very little money left over for food and toiletry items. Sharon and Leilani continue to eat at the Soup Kitchen daily however they give back by helping the Soup Kitchen in any way they can... from folding clothes to offering an extra hand when deliveries come in.
After talking to Leilani it is evident that she will be very successful in life. She wants to be a lawyer. With straight A's she is definitely on her way!
One thing that I have realized very quickly while being part of the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen is that there are some AMAZING people with huge hearts! Over the last year I have heard a name frequently... the name was Michael Kang. He seemed legendary around the Soup Kitchen... like John Wayne. I didn't know very much about him only that everybody was forever grateful for everything that he does... and thought he walked on water. So last night I got the opportunity to go meet him... and boy he did not disappoint!
I arrived at the Five Feet Restaurant in downtown Laguna Beach and came upon a big tent in the parking lot with about 100 volunteers working away with precision. For the last 17 years Michael has cooked the full meal served at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. He is not only the Chef but Owner of the Five Feet Restaurant. This particular year he was cooking for about 700-800 people. The numbers were staggering...
Michael makes this annual event super fun for all of the volunteers. He provides merlot and chardonnay as well as so many delicious appetizers (wontons, calamari, shore ribs, potstickers, etc.) to the volunteers. Most of the volunteers have been coming for 5-10 years and really look forward to this annual event.
Michael is very funny, keeping everybody motivated with his humor and love for the Soup Kitchen. After talking to him a little more I was able to determine that he was the person that spearheaded a huge event several years ago "to burn" the mortgage on the building that the Soup Kitchen is located. He organized an fundraising event at the Ritz bringing in many top chefs and wine companies for the evening and were able to "retire" the mortgage so that the Soup Kitchen would own the property free and clear. This was no small feat as the mortgage was several hundred thousand dollars! Just AMAZING!!
Click here for some pictures of the 100 volunteers in action making the Thanksgiving dinner possible for the homeless and hungry on Thanksgiving! Here is Michael with his wife Karen and son Devon. Thank you Michael for all that you do! It was a great to see first hand how the Thanksgiving meal is prepared for all the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen!
I met Ilene yesterday at the Soup Kitchen while she was having her lunch. She had a really great energy about her... the grandmother energy... all smiles and very loving. If I did not met her in the Soup Kitchen I would have never thought that in a million years that she would going hungry without Someone Cares. When I asked her name she told me Ilene... and said I lean this way and that way... making the motions with her head... we both laughed.
Ilene had lived most of her life in Southern California mostly Orange County. Her husband had passed away and she has two sons living in Northern California. She has no immediate family currently in Orange County/Southern California and finds herself very much alone.
About 3 years ago she moved from Newport Beach finding herself unable to pay her bills and moved into a studio at Bethel Towers for $315/month (one block from the Soup Kitchen that is senior living). She has very little left each month for food and living expenses. She comes to the Soup Kitchen daily in order to get a hearty, nutritious meal. She not only loves the Soup Kitchen for the daily meal, weekly toiletry items and food she takes home to make breakfast & dinner but finds comfort in being among people in her same situation.
We had so many laughs during the half hour we talked but I could definitely tell that she is scared that she will not be able to survive with her very limited means. With the Soup Kitchen it has allowed her to keep her respect and dignity. She said that without the Soup Kitchen she does not know how she would eat every day... that really breaks your heart when you hear a senior say that!
I asked her what is her favorite thing that she loves to do outside of the Soup Kitchen and she said Square dancing. Every week she looks forward to square dancing with several other seniors. She also goes to the Costa Mesa Senior Center during the day (one block away from Someone Cares). Ilene still possesses that amazing energy and hope.
More than 20% of the people that come to the Soup Kitchen daily are seniors. In their retirement years they are supposed to enjoy life. Unfortunately for so many this is not a reality. I couldn't even imagine how scary it is for Ilene and others like her at the Soup Kitchen to be retired and unable to make ends meet. Ilene said that everyday she is so thankful for the Soup Kitchen and counts it as one of her blessings!
I would never have guessed that Orange County would have the 3rd highest population of homeless people in the nation (behind Los Angeles and New York City). This just amazes me! Orange County is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States yet has the 3rd highest number of homeless people!
The Someone Cares Soup Kitchen does a survey of their population each year. In the last survey I found two questions very intriguing...
1. Where did you sleep last night?
2. How would you have eaten if not for the Soup Kitchen?
Makes you wonder what would happen if the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen did not exist!
