Volunteer and Make a Difference
Community Engagement
In addition to our construction projects that create dignified housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, HomeAid works to meet the immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness by providing resources to people that live in HomeAid-built housing projects. Through our HomeAid Essentials and HomeAid Cares Programs, we work to fulfill the needs of our community.
HomeAid Essentials
These community outreach opportunities provide exactly what their namesake says: essential items. In collaboration with our local community, HomeAid works to collect and distribute donations of critically needed items. Below are the drives and opportunities that are a part of HomeAid’s Essentials Program.
Diaper Drive: Beginning each year on Mother’s Day, we work with the community to collect donations of diapers and wipes. On our Drive Thru Drop-Off day, many of our building industry partners create larger-than-life diaper structures for volunteers and donors to see while dropping off their donations.
Thanksgiving Meal Drive: Each fall, HomeAid works with local groups, schools churches, and businesses to collect non-perishable foods. All donated food items are put into meal boxes that feed up to 4 people and are distributed to HomeAid housing projects so that everyone has food on the table for Thanksgiving dinner.
HomeKits: These small to medium-sized move-in care packages are made by volunteers for the families who move on from our Family CareCenter to their next, more permanent housing option. Donate funds to support the creation of HomeKits.
CareKits: Assembled most often by corporate groups, CareKits are filled with snacks, water, socks, sunscreen, a poncho (seasonally), and a 211 resource information card. These are handed out, both by volunteers and HomeAid staff, to people experiencing homelessness on Orange County’s streets. Donate online to support the creation of CareKits.
HomeAid Cares
All volunteer events through our HomeAid Cares Program give volunteers the opportunity to contribute to our housing projects in a meaningful and direct way. Through minor touch-ups of projects, landscaping work, cleaning facilities, and preparing food, our Cares Program allows volunteers from all backgrounds to support HomeAid housing projects.
Community CareDays happen Monday-Friday from 11 AM - 1 PM at our HomeAid Family CareCenter. During these volunteer days, volunteers do a deep clean of the CareCenter and put together sack lunches for the families.
HomeAid CareDays are hands-on volunteer workdays at our various HomeAid housing projects. On these days minor repairs and upgrades are made thanks to the help of our building industry partners. Tasks include painting, landscaping, cleaning, and small construction projects.
Serving Dinner at our Family CareCenter occurs from 6-7:30 PM nightly. Volunteers help our on-site team with serving dinner to the families.
