Share Our Selves
Share Our Selves is one of the largest, most comprehensive, volunteer-based agencies providing safety net services for homeless and low-income individuals and families in Orange County. All services are free and include medical and dental care, counseling, case management, food, clothing, financial assistance, legal aid, and special holiday programs. With the help of more than 400 regular volunteers, SOS is an excellent example of service integration, cutting across multiple service systems to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and deliver the highest quality medical care. Our goal is to provide immediate and long term solutions to poverty in Orange County and to provide services for those lacking resources. In these difficult economic times, the integral safety net services that SOS provides to the community are more important than ever.
OCUUC partners with SOS several times every year. In May we celebrate Mother’s Day by collecting supplies for mothers and their babies, such as diapers, wipes, bottles, and clothing. In August we donate backpacks and school supplies, and in December we have a huge Adopt A Family for the Holidays project where we adopt families by gifting them with food and presents.
Mother’s Day
ocuuc
org (sosocuucorg) 
Share Our Selves and the Little Green Shopping Cart
With our difficult economy, the number of those needing the help of SOS has climbed and the amount of donations have really dwindled. A lime green shopping cart sits in the Social Hall at OCUUC so we may help SOS serve our community during these very lean times. Please make it a weekly habit to purchase something for our cart. There are a few suggestions listed on the front of the cart but you can also simply think of what you would find important should you only be able to choose a few items to feed your family. Sources of protein, foods that don’t have to be refrigerated or cooked or foods that little ones like to eat are things to consider. They also need toiletries such as shampoo. Just put them in our little green cart and a volunteer will take it to SOS on a weekly basis!
ShareOurSelves is no longer taking clothing donations except for: winter jackets, sleeping bags, mats, socks and of course...food and toiletries. Can you imagine if on Sunday, each one of us brought just one food or toiletry item in? The people in need are so grateful for your donations. Thank you!
We will have updates on the successes of our little lime green shopping cart (like the Little Engine that Could!) and should you have any questions you can send us an email (sosocuucorg) .
Please try to make purchases using scrip from local stores which are available on the patio every Sunday. Buying Scrip will not add any cost to your purchase, but will bring in funds to the church.
Thank you for your generosity.
OCUUC Adopted 10 Families for the 2011 Holiday
Thank you for your generosity! This is the 13th year OCUUC members and friends have adopted families, providing gifts and food they would not otherwise be able to afford.
Details
OCUUC has been participating in this program since 1998. We receive information about local families that would not be able to celebrate the holidays because of various circumstances. We agree to donate gifts for all the family members as well as enough food for them to have a holiday meal.
Participants chose to adopt a whole family, by themselves or with others, or they chose the name of one person from the Angel Tree. This year our Angel Tree contained the names of individuals from Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Kid’s Clinic. These are families where one of the children is fighting HIV/AIDS. We gave scrip for local grocery stores so the families can shop for their holiday meal items.
For more information, contact Judith Stamper: sosocuucorg (sosocuucorg)
