Events

Thanksgiving – November

Each year, Families Forward holds a Thanksgiving-themed grocery distribution for local families in need. The weekend before Thanksgiving, families come to our program center to receive all of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings to cook a warm, delicious holiday meal.

With community support, Families Forward is able to provide nearly 800 families with a special holiday meal to share with their loved ones.

How you can help:

• Donate Thanksgiving themed food and/or host a Thanksgiving food drive during the months of October and November. For more information on how to host a food drive, click here. For the Thanksgiving food items we need most, click here.
• Volunteer with us for our Thanksgiving Program!

Each year, Families Forward hosts an annual fundraising gala to support our vital mission to prevent and end homelessness in Orange County. Out of abundance of caution, to protect the health and safety of our guests, volunteers and staff, Families Forward made the difficult decision to transition our Light Up the Night Gala to fully virtual. This year’s event included inspirational client stories, engaging entertainment and an online auction. We’re so grateful to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, friends and family for helping to bring the spirit of Ohana to Orange County on August 27th to help end family homelessness.

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Igniting Hope Sponsor

The Kling Family Foundation

Navigating Home Sponsors

Community-Wide Food Drives

Families Forward hosts Community-Wide Food Drives each year. Check back for upcoming dates.

Families need food all year long – but often during the year, our food donations dwindle and our pantry shelves can be nearly empty. To prepare for these slower times, Families Forward partners with local grocery stores and community groups for one weekend in the Spring, Summer, and Fall to collect food donations to be able serve hungry families every month of the year.

Volunteer Groups are needed at grocery stores to ask shoppers to purchase additional food items and to bring all collected food donations back to the Food Pantry. Volunteers are also needed to help unload cars and help stock our shelves. To watch a brief, informative video about volunteering for a food drive, please click here.

If you are interested in collecting donations at a grocery store for an upcoming event, please contact our Volunteer Assistant at  us at emhernandez@families-forward.org or (949) 379-8373.

Back to School Backpacks

Back to School Backpacks – July & August

Do you remember that end-of-summer feeling with “Back to School” signs on every store window? Having those new supplies in your hand on the first day made it fun to go back.

We invite the community to come together and give every student that same opportunity by participating in our Back to School program. Grade-appropriate school supplies and backpacks will be distributed to low-income elementary, middle, and high school students in July-August. These supplies will help students start on the same foot as their peers and build their confidence for the coming school year. We also collect new and like-new clothing and shoes for school-age children. Families in our Back to School Program will select school clothing that fits their child’s needs.

• Click here to read more and see our list of needed school items.
• Click here to be directed to Back to School Volunteering information.
• Click here to sign up to host a Backpacks/School Supply drive.