Both of Angelina’s parents were heroin addicts, so the state decided she should be raised by her grandmother. But, Grandma was mean and abusive. Angelina was afraid that if she told the social worker, things would get worse. “As a kid you are scared,” explains Angelina. “So you keep your mouth shut.” At age 12, she realized she had become like her grandmother — angry, rebellious and mean. A year later, Angelina began smoking crack cocaine and was eventually placed in a group home.

Yet all that time she still had a deep yearning for God. After Angelina became a Christian, she married a Christian man who was a former gang member, and she had her first child. Then Angelina’s husband started back-sliding. Angelina went to parties just to keep an eye on him. Bit by bit, she slid back with him and, eventually, the marriage ended.

Then someone introduced her to heroin. She was so sick when she didn’t have heroin she would sell her body to get it. She tried a number of programs, even a short stay at the House of Hope — but change was hard. She knew she was killing herself, but she couldn’t stop. She cried out to God, “Take whatever needs to be taken away from me to make me stop!” God answered — He took everything, including her daughter.

The court told her to choose between jail or a government rehab program. Neither of those had ever worked for her mother. Angelina knew she had a spiritual problem. She came back to the House of Hope — and is fighting the court for permission to stay! She is fighting for her life and fighting for her daughter.

For Angelina, hope came in the form of job training, parenting classes, and counseling to guide her in her walk with God. Now, she is determined to keep her daughter from turning out the way she did. It begins, she says, by making sure the cycle of drug abuse ends with her own complete recovery. With God’s strength, and support from friends like you, she believes she can make it. “This place is a blessing,” Angelina says. “Without you (Mission donors), the House of Hope would not be here for so many women and children. Thank you.”

Michael moved away from home at age 16. He occasionally used drugs, but with his handyman skills he created a stable life — home, marriage, kids. Then his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Shortly thereafter, his mother and father died. He figured, “Everyone was dying. Would I be next?”

Michael’s habit got worse. He was in and out of jail until a judge gave him an option. Given a choice between prison time or a program, Michael chose the Orange County Rescue Mission. But that first day he wondered, “What have I gotten myself into?” When the pastors started talking about the Bible, he rolled his eyes. Michael had heard it all in AA.

Michael doubted the Mission could do anything to change his life until he noticed the people here were happy — even in the worst of circumstances. “The next thing I knew,” he says, “I met the Lord. It has changed my life.” Today, Michael has no desire for drugs and he is very excited about living at the Village of Hope. And best of all, he is rebuilding his relationship with his children. They can’t wait for him to graduate!

It's very refreshing to meet a young person fired by enthusiasm and compassion to alleviate the problems of homelessness. Andrea Ford, who likes to be called Andi, is one such young star in the making.

Andi just graduated (May 2008) from Biola University with a BA in Sociology, minoring in Communications Studies and Biblical Studies, which is evident in her confident cheerful manner and strong faith.

Andi originated from Seattle, Washington, but came to Southern California for her undergraduate studies. She has yet to decide whether she is going to return to Seattle after graduation or whether God is calling her to remain in this area. Her main priority will be seeking employment.

Andi heard about the Orange County Rescue Mission during a Social Issues course in which a college outreach worker for the Rescue Mission gave a presentation during one class session. Two years later, remembering the impression the Rescue Mission had on her, she decided that this was where she wanted to undertake her internship.

She worked in the office two afternoons per week from March until the middle of May when her internship was completed. During that time, Andi became involved in various activities that substantially broadened her understanding of how the non-profit sector meets the needs of the homeless.

When Andi was asked about the biggest “take away” point from her experience at the Rescue Mission she replied, “Many people see homeless people on the street and imagine stereotypical reasons, for example drug addiction, for their circumstances. However, working for the Rescue Mission has shown me that there are wide ranges of ways someone can become homeless; most of these are not their own fault.”

"I have always felt compassion for people in need,” says Andi, remarking on the impact her OCRM internship has had on her, “but God has used my contact with our clients, hearing their stories and the details of their lives, to broaden and deepen this compassion.” She added, “I'm not entirely sure this is the way God is leading me in terms of my career, but I have always had an interest in working with the homeless.”

Andi has the highest regard for Bonnie Taylor, Director of Volunteer Services and Brandi Schlechter, Manager of Volunteer Services, who mixed warm and friendly attitudes with a high degree of professionalism. They not only supported her in planning and organizing her internship but also provided a listening ear for more personal family matters when one was needed.

Asked what she would say to would-be volunteers, Andi says enthusiastically, “I've absolutely loved my experience here and I'd encourage anybody to help out in any way they can.”

It’s scary the first time you go to jail,” says Mike. “But after that you get used to it. At least it’s three hot meals and a bed.” Mike’s mom would be surprised to hear her son say that. That isn’t how she raised him. But when Mike started hanging out with the wrong crowd, drugs and gang life became his new family. He figured either hard prison time or death was right around the corner.

One day he saw a flyer talking about the Orange County Rescue Mission. He thought it might be a good place to sleep, and get a hot meal. At first he didn’t pay attention to the religious talk, but the chaplain kept telling him about the power of prayer.

Thanks to generous friends like you, Mike’s story appears heading for a happy ending. Mike hadn’t been at the Mission long before he discovered that prayer really works. He used to blame others for his problems. Now he realizes he was the one who had been messing up all along. Today, Mike is sober. He goes to church regularly. And he has a renewed relationship with his son. “Coming here saved my life,” he says.

Shaquisha has many siblings — all by different fathers. Her mom wasn’t there to help raise a single one of them because she was a drug addict. When the kids weren’t raising themselves, a relative or the state would step in. Every once in a while her mom would show up full of promises — and then abandon them again. Months before her high school graduation, she was living in a state facility when she turned 18 and was “emancipated.” With no place to live, this young woman had every right to be angry.

Shaquisha is finishing her schooling and hopes to one day become a nurse. But her first priority, she says, is listening to what God tells her when she reads her Bible. And if her mother were to walk through the door, how would she respond? “The way the Lord says — I’d show her I forgive her. I still love her,” Shaquisha says without hesitation. Now that she has broken the cycle of drug abuse, she is creating a brighter future for herself — a future filled with love, forgiveness and hope.

“I’m so proud of Eddie,” says Hilda Solis, graduate of the Orange County Rescue Mission’s House of Hope, and current resident of Hope Family Housing in El Modena. She has a right to be proud.

Every year, the Santa Ana Unified School District honors its top 100 seniors who have excelled throughout the current school year. At the 49th Annual Top 100 Academic Achievement Recognition Event held in May at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Eddie Villamar was one of the students chosen to represent the top 25 percent of his graduating class and was acknowledged with a medal, a plaque and seven awards. In addition, Hilda received a framed photograph of Eddie and a plaque that was addressed to the parents. This would be enough in itself, but when you consider the struggle with homelessness that Eddie's family has had to endure the last few years, it’s quite an accomplishment.

As a proud mom, Hilda stood up and cheered with excitement as Eddie accepted each award. Eddie was also included in an interview that is to air on the local school district channel. *He’s even been chosen to speak at his commencement ceremony at Cesar Chavez High School. What an exciting event and achievement that makes us all so proud of Eddie!

*We recently learned Eddie was elected to be Prom King at his Senior Prom!

Since its inception in 1991, The California Consumer Protection Foundation has administered over $20 million to public and non-profit organizations to support a wide range of activities affecting consumers. The Foundation administers the $25 million Community Collaborative Fund from Verizon Communications and the $13 million Electric Education Trust on behalf of Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric. Grant funds from all of these sources are used to accomplish multiple goals, such as increasing access to telecommunications and information services in underserved communities and supporting consumer education, protection and research.

In 2007, the Orange County Rescue Mission received a $30,000 grant from California Consumer Protection Foundation to support the Mobile Technology Education Vehicle (MTEV) program. These funds helped the Rescue Mission bring technology and educational opportunities to the homeless and to those living in poverty motels in our county. The customized MTEV allowed low-income and homeless residents to access the internet for job search activities, receive instruction on resume development and job interviewing techniques, and pursue Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) certification. Since the majority of the homeless and very poor do not have regular access to technology, the MTEV program effectively bridged this educational and vocational barrier.

The Orange County Rescue Mission depends upon the support and partnership of so many individuals, corporations and foundations to make programs such as the MTEV successful. This investment by California Consumer Protection Foundation resulted in 174 unduplicated low-income residents receiving educational and vocational training.

Thank you, California Consumer Protection Foundation, for partnering with us to provide the homeless in our county with the resources they need to become self-sufficient!