You can count on bountiful, beautiful food served by dedicated staff and volunteers seven days a…read moreweek.

Great place that is feeding the poor. I recommend them. If you have any extra food, bring it to…read moretheir rear door and they will make good use of it.

I came here to volunteer the other day. These people are so organized. Don't just show up as you…read moremay be turned away if they have too many volunteers that day. Make sure you login to the website and checkout locations and dates and register yourself for openings. It's great to come with family, friends or coworker. They have many different ways you can volunteer your time or just put a shoebox together and drop it off at a processing location. We had a good time joining a team on the floor and were given a little training and we went to work for a couple of hours. My first job was to scan shoe boxes that people had donated and wanted it tracked. It was kinda boring as those were infrequent so I switched over to checking shoe boxes that were donated making sure they didn't have certain items not permitted in the box. After awhile I switch to taping boxes shut after the inspection process which worked out fine as I was constantly working. Checkout the website and see how you can help. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/volunteer-network/

So my family first started participating in this organization's Operation Christmas Child a few…read moreyears ago and it's now become a family tradition with us even filling up shoe boxes at home to bring to the processing center and volunteering at the actual processing center. For those who aren't familiar with Sumaritan's Purse, they are a Christian-base nonprofit that provides aids to areas of need here in the U.S and third world countries. They were actually one of the first responders to bring aid to rural areas that were hit by a big typhoon in Central Vietnam in 2017. Air lifting over 200,000 POUNDS of supplies to the villagers who have lost everything. Operation Christmas Child is one of their projects that takes place from Nov-Dec. You can watch one of their videos of this operation on YouTube. Which was how I found them actually. The idea is that you take a shoe box and decorate it and fit anything you can into a shoe box for a child in a third world country (socks, soap, toothbrushes, hair brushes, a small toy, pens, pencil).And then you can drop off the shoe boxes at their processing center by a certain deadline (and if you pay for a tracking label) you can track where your shoe box may end up. OR you can sign up to volunteer during the holidays at the processing center to inspect the shoe boxes or even stuff shoe boxes (companies donate supplies that you can put into boxes). The whole operation is so efficient , to watch one group inspect, one group stuff more gifts in light boxes, one group tape and one group organize the shoeboxes into bigger boxes with tracking labels is really a sight to behold. EVERYONE that you come across are EXCEEDINGLY nice and gracious, from the parking attendant, to the front desk/lobby people to the people running the warehouse. I do understand how Sumaritan's Purse could come as "too much" for people who are not Christians who wants to help. However, I think this organization is truly doing something not just special but extremely meaningful that could change a child's life in a small village some where in the world. With a simple gift from a stranger a world away, to let the child know that they matter, and you you could also include a letter if you wish. Sumaritan's Purse really goes out of their way to deliver the shoeboxes into rural areas often times using elephants to do so! Operation Christmas Child only goes on from Nov to mid Dec (before Christmas because they have to get the shoeboxes out of the U.S. before than)! Cheers!

We love donating to this Food Pantry because they accept items that require refrigeration. We…read moredonate our fresh organic duck eggs ( not fertile eggs ) They are higher in protein and last longer in the fridge than chicken eggs.

Hello everyone who has a heart of giving! My personal…read moreexperience at this organization by the name of Mary's Kitchen Pantry is severely disorganized severely. I offered my time and they confirmed a day and time, twice. I arrived on time and geez it was the worst. Ignored and worst of all not needed, they have my phone number and email. Unless you prefer to be mistreated by this so called organization, go ahead and sign up for it.

Wonderful experience here. Everyone so caring. I appreciate all they do for the communityread more

Amazing. They truly are here to help out their community and if shows…read more My family and I just heard about this place because our children love to play at this park and every Thursday you are able to get food from 1030-11 But you have to sign up before 1030.

It feels great to help people in need, and I managed to convince my girlfriend to volunteer with me…read morehere and give it a try and see how rewarding it is. I've volunteered at various food banks and this is definitely one of the more challenging ones. Packing/sorting the peaches is a messy job and either that or the onions got some type of allergen on our forearms, making us super itchy. On the box packing assembly line I was given two stations so I worked like a dog as fast/hard as I could so I wouldn't let the rest of the line down even though I probably should've taken a break. It was like an hour long cardio workout and I was drenched in sweat by the end of it, but we got A LOT of boxes packed.

Great place to volunteer and give back to the community. They are very well organized. There is…read moreusually lines where you work to box food items into it. Great way for groups to come and volunteer together. You will have fun.

I'm not much into McDonalds. Maybe the occasional egg white McMuffin on my way to an early…read moretee-time. But McDonalds beats In n Out hands down when it comes to caring for sick children and their families. My Lion's Club chapter had the honor of cooking for 50 people here this week and I am the one who feels the benefit. Without going into the full history of this place, the brief story is that McDonalds donates a small hotel-like building walking distance from different children's hospitals. This one is next to Children's Hospital Orange County (CHOC). The donated structure is run like a no-charge hotel, with volunteers and a few staff members, for families to stay while their child is at CHOC. Families must submit an application, have financial need and, pending space (maybe a dozen rooms) can stay here up to a month before requesting an extension. Breakfast and dinner is cooked each day for families. The food and labor is provided by volunteer groups. Groups of friends, businesses, restaurants, service organizations, etc. sign up about three months in advance. The menus are pre-approved, the food must all be cooked on site, and volunteers must all be in good health. They provide a fully stocked kitchen and some permanent volunteers are on hand to provide guidance. We were able to sit and dine with the guests and hear their stories of heartbreak, perseverance and strength. Think about the triple whammy that these folks go through. First, their child is sick enough to need a specialized children's hospital. Next, it is far enough away from home that you need a hotel for the family. Lastly, you don't have the financial resources for both the medical care and housing. This place fills that need. The Ronald McDonald House is a God-send and McDonalds should be applauded for providing this type of low-key and vital assistance to the public. No Happy Meals are served here. No golden arches out front. No McDonald's advertisements, clowns or commercials blaring inside. Just good people caring for their kids and good people assisting the families. Very humbling.

I have been blessed with my life to live this long and share the journey through Yelp and my work…read more Life does surprising things and I hope for the better. Unfortunately, life tends to do a 180 and the best thing we can do is to help our fellow neighbors. I work for a very large company and they are constantly doing their best to help our fellow man. My company teamed up with a special company, but not because they have the Golden Arches or they make Hamburgers, but the foundation that we see, but ignore. Our Team is headed over to the Orange County Ronald McDonald House in the city of Orange. Located about two blocks north of W. La Veta Ave. on the east side of Batavia St., you will find the three story tall and world famous charity, Ronald McDonald House. While the name is associated with the Golden Arches, this is a separate entity and does not promote fast food and is not fully funded besides from the contributions of the local neighborhood. My employer is a large organization and they decided to spend some time helping families and their children that are going medical procedure at the local Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). A few minutes or hours of our volunteer time are helpful to the families in need. Families can stay at the Ronald McDonald House with approved forms from their Physician for only $10 a day. The $10 covers the room, food, laundry, and many other activities. This place is essentially another home away from home. Some families are not fortunate to drive many miles away to leave their littles ones behind thus requesting the assistance of the Ronald McDonald House. This home is amazing. It is three floors of amenities for families just looking for a short place to stay. If I am not mistaken, there are 20 rooms for families to stay. There is a large kitchen for volunteers like my organization to prepare and cook meals for the day. Also, there are game/activity rooms for families to help ease some of the mindsets/emotions that they are going through. Heaven forbid you and/or your child has to go through this. Our organization signed up to prepare breakfast. The Ronald McDonald House has all the tools (i.e. knives, plates, utensils), but all we have to do is bring the ingredients and cook. We had the task of making breakfast burritos, eggs, waffles, sandwiches, and many other delicious. Food is what makes the journey memorable. Volunteering is a human characteristic that we all have done in one form or another. The greatest part of the whole experience wasn't just cooking, preparing, cleaning: It was the smiles and gratitude from the families who just wanted a hot meal. I used to go to the Golden Arches and see a Ronald McDonald House Donation Box at the window. After talking with the staff member, donations are low and are usually high during the Holiday Season. While we may see the Golden Arches being a name on the house, most of the staff are volunteering out of the kindness of their hearts and their wallets. There are many donors across many doors and hallways. Donors are the reason why the Ronald McDonald House continues to thrive. Everyday many families come through this house looking for a haven and as we may feel helpless, we have done the best we can to make their day better and better by passing it forward. This Yelp Voyage is my novel. I write to share the experience and for you to interpret it. My guidance is through you. It is BECAUSE of you that I want to recreate the same experience. The end result is success because you made me share my story. Yelp your story every day!

I went to a number of foreign countries, and during whenever I went, I would try to go to an…read moreorphanage or a home for children. And I was seeing thousands of kids around the world that needed homes -- Sam Brownback It is not the physical pain that endangers orphans the most. It is the mental pain caused by stress from years and years of being neglected, pushed aside, disregarded, unloved, and made to feel undeserving, and in almost all cases, made to feel like a possession rather than an equal human being. Even more it is the lack of unconditional love, the right to be accepted, as a child and to be loved, as a child, no matter what you do is the most wounding. -- Roger Dean Kiser, from Orphan - A true Story of Abandonment, Abuse and Redemption. Part II of Sidney Writes About Doing Good The Roger Kiser quote completely devastated me the first time that I read it. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried. It crystallized for me everything I felt growing up...everything that I wanted in this life. I grew up in a broken home...never knew my Father...my mom was a struggling single mom with two kids. She worked full time, and then being a child of the 60's, partied like that was her second full time job. I knew with my son, that I had to be 100% different...that even though my relationship did not work out, he would always know the unconditional love and support that I never had. He is indeed lucky that he has two parents that love and adore him very much. It also explains why I feel so strongly that everyone needs to give back to their community. This whole nonsense of "I Built That" is just that: nonsense. So much of one's success is nothing more than an accident of birth (not that enough people get that). I always want to ask the typical OC preening peacock: What if you were born a slave? Or a Chinese peasant? Or a woman in the Dark Ages? Or in the middle of the Somalian or Congo Civil War? How magnificent would you be then? It is what I try and teach my son especially since he is growing up in the bubble of the OC with no real wants or needs unmet. He got lucky with two loving parents who adore him and who have the financial resources to take care of him. Corazon de Vida Foundation supports a dozens orphanages in Baja California. Per the website: "As some background, Mexico does not have a foster care system to support children in need due to neglect, abuse, or abandonment. There is no welfare system to help families with a single parent that is unable to provide for their children. So, the only way to support families and children in need is through a network of orphanages. At last count, there are approximately 50 orphanages in Baja California, Mexico. Most are located close to the border because most of their support comes from the US." They run several trips a month to the homes where individuals or groups can visit the children (and play and interact) or do needed service. You can also sponsor a child, donate online, host a party or make a difference in a variety of other ways. Now, many of my Yelp friends enjoy Sababa in Long Beach. Corazon is hosting a social soiree for only $10.00 on October 17th. Tickets can be purchased here: http://oct17soiree.eventbrite.com/ There will be a appetizers, drinks, a raffle. And hey, I will be there too :) It is a tremendous organization that does an amazing amount of work for the neglected children of Mexico. (And I promise, we will leave the earnestness and seriousness of these past two reviews and do something a bit funnier on my next write-up!)

I have been going to the trips to Tijuana for over 1 year and I can definitely say this…read moreorganization is awesome! I am a sponsor and I suggest you to go to one of the trips and have the experience that will change your life forever. These kids give you so much love that you will go back home wanting more and more. Don't forget ... "Your actions today will be your lawyer in the future... Be a good person!"

Spring cleaning and I wanted to make sure my quality goods didn't go to waste. I have so much brand…read morenew work clothing or worn once bridesmaid dresses that I know can be helpful to someone else. I found Orange County Rescue Mission and I love the support they provide for the community so I decided I wanted to give my donations to them. Orange County Rescue Mission is open Friday to Wednesday from 8am-5pm, Closed Thursdays. They have a convenient area for you to drive up, and their volunteers are super nice and will be more than happy to help you lift and unload your donations. Donation receipts available upon request.

Orange County Rescue Mission is my go-to spot for dropping off donations. The volunteers are always…read moreso friendly, welcoming and the staff always come to you to help unload.