Share
At Orangewood Foundation, our work is built on the strength of community members who dedicate their time to support the young people we serve. This April, we are celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Month to recognize the individuals and corporate partners whose efforts fuel our mission and sustain our programs. We have decided to highlight four diverse contributors to showcase the various ways our community works together to provide a stable environment for young people. The contributions of these community members allow Orangewood to offer consistent, high-quality resources that address both immediate needs and long-term goals. By building a deep support network for our young adults, these volunteers ensure that every young person who walks through our doors feels supported by a community that is truly invested in their future.
We lead with Optima Tax Relief, a consistent supporter of Orangewood’s mission. From navigating complex tax seasons for our young people and stocking pantry shelves to cooking fresh meals in our kitchen, Optima Tax Relief does it all; this year alone, they provided over 480 meals, sustaining 40 young people every single month. This specialized support is vital for young people who may find tax season overwhelming. Optima employees dedicated nine weeks of assistant participants at our free tax preparation site. Their expertise helped young people claim the Foster Youth Tax Credit, ensuring they secure the financial resources they need to build their independence.
Beyond these professional services, they led financial literacy and education workshops at our Independent City event, providing expert guidance to participants with multiple jobs on how to accurately navigate W-4 withholdings. This education equips young people with the necessary skills for long-term financial independence and career stability. Optima Tax Relief also completed over seven volunteer and kitchen events, handling heavy lifting and sorting food donations from Second Harvest Food Bank. They bring a level of professionalism and heart that changes lives and we are grateful for their unmatched energy and dedication to building a stronger, more resilient community alongside us.
The impact of such corporate dedication is mirrored in the work of individual volunteers like Lorraine, who works behind the scenes to ensure our resources are always mission ready. Lorraine has been a vital contributor to our donation closet, where she has developed an intuitive organizational system that ensures our young people can access clothing and essentials with ease. Today, the closet is a critical resource for young people transitioning into new phases of their lives, whether they are starting a new job or moving into an apartment, making the ability to find what they need quickly more essential than ever. By streamlining how we manage these resources, Lorraine ensures that when a participant needs a professional outfit for an interview or hygiene kits, our team can provide it without delay.
Her work illustrates how specific professional skills, such as organizational management and inventory logistics, can directly improve the experience for our young people. An organized space sends a message of respect and dignity, showing our young people that their needs are a priority. This behind-the-scenes work allows our staff to focus their energy on direct participant engagement, knowing that our resources are ready to be utilized at a moment’s notice.
This commitment to creating a reliable environment is also evident in our kitchen where long-standing corporate relationships have set a new standard for volunteerism. It is partners like Toshiba who have established a blueprint for corporate partnership through remarkable consistency. Their commitment to a monthly culture of service has become a gold standard, inspiring other corporate partners to integrate consistent service into their own company cultures. With 205 hours contributed, Toshiba employees have served over 480 hot, nutritious meals that our participants can count on. This massive investment of time provides more than just a meal; it provides a steady presence that allows young people to focus on their personal milestones, like education, housing, and health.
By meeting basic needs, Toshiba ensures there was never a gap in service. Beyond the meals, the human connection was always present, as participants don’t just eat and enjoy their meals; they engage with Toshiba employees, asking about their work, and sharing their own journeys. Because of Toshiba’s success, we have successfully modeled new partnerships after their monthly culture of service approach. They have shown proven to the corporate world that giving back is not a one-off event, but a relationship that strengthens the community.
Just as corporate teams provide a reliable presence, individual advocates like Kris Wells offer a legacy of support that and fuels our work for years. Kris embodies this dedication through her many years of service and advocacy. As a key supporter of our Fuel Their Week campaign and an active member of the 44 Women For Orangewood auxiliary group, Kris demonstrates how individual involvement can scale into a significant community impact.
During the Fuel Their Week campaign, her advocacy was essential for ensuring nutritional resources to our young people when they were needed the most. By showing up consistently for our events and initiatives, Kris provides a sense of stability, helping our young people feel connected to a wider community of people who are invested in their success. Her presence at our foundation events and her work through the auxiliary group helps bridge the gap between individual volunteering and broader community support systems, fostering a more cohesive environment for those we serve. These community members remind us that every act of service strengthens the network of support across Orange County. Whether it is an individual organizing a closet, a long-time advocate leading a campaign, or a corporation committing to a monthly meal and professional tax assistance, these contributions ensure that Orangewood remains a place of opportunity.
This approach to volunteerism is what makes our community resilient and effective in its mission to support young people and break the cycle of vulnerability. When a young person enters Orangewood, they aren’t just receiving a service; they are being welcomed into a community dedicated to their growth and well-being. This deep level of involvement is what allows us to expand our reach and deepen our impact every single day. Every hour spent and every resource organized contributes to a larger story of success.
Explore our current volunteer opportunities and see how you can help fuel our mission today.
