Orange County Business Council Provides List Of Resources For Residents In Need

Let’s be honest: Life right now is hard. Really, really hard. Many of us have taken severe financial hits and are isolated from our usual support system. Thankfully, we are not alone. But while there is comfort in knowing that as global citizens we are sharing this experience together, this knowledge does little to ease anxieties surrounding food insecurity and living through a pandemic.

Irvine and Orange County as a community have come together to ensure that all those who need help are able to get it. It can be hard to find what you’re looking for, so the Orange County Business Council has put together a comprehensive list of resources for families, children, seniors and pets in need. If you aren’t looking for help, but are rather looking to help, there is a great list of volunteer opportunities found at the end of this article.

Known as “TLC for OC,” you can find OCBC’s guide below:

Food Resources for Families

Tustin Drive Through Food Drive

Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Families Together of Orange County Community Health Center, 621 West First St., Tustin CA, 92780

Saddleback Church: Peace Community Resource Center Food Pantry

Fresh and nonperishable grocery items, packages contain 5 days worth of food
Families may receive assistance once every 30 days
Locations: Anaheim, Irvine South, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Rancho Capistrano, San Clemente

Second Harvest Food Bank Drive Through

Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Location: Honda Center parking lot: 2695 E. Katella Ave. Enter off South Douglass Road.

Christ Cathedral: Food Bank

Pre-bagged food distribution: Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: 13280 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840 by front gate of the property

Salvation Army Orange County: Drive Through Food Distribution

Canned foods, produce, frozen goods
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For residents of North and Central Orange County – Bring ID
May receive food once monthly
Must meet low income guidelines (TEFAP)
Location: 1515 W. North Street, Anaheim, CA

Families Forward: Drive Through Food Bank

Drive-thru service including food and diapers
Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: 8 Thomas, Irvine, CA 92618

Food for Christ at the Rock: Drive Through Food Bank

Hours: Drive-thru will be 7:00 am – 9:00 am on Saturday.
Phone: (714) 331-6311
Location: 101 East Orangethorpe Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801

Southwest Community Center

Hot Meals 12:00 pm Monday-Sunday, but the meal must be consumed off-site. The food pantry is offered 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.
Phone: (714) 547-4073
Location: 1601 West Second Street, Santa Ana CA 92703

South County Outreach: Appointment Online Food Pantry

Food distribution will be by appointment only. Any shopper coming without an appointment will be directed to call the hotline.
Phone: Pantry Hotline at 949-380-8144 ext. 207
Location: 7 Whatney, Suite B, Irvine, CA 92618

Food Resources for Children

OC School Grab and Go Meals: Comprehensive list of all OC Schools

Orange County Department of Education has prepared a master list of all school locations in Orange County where families can pick up food.

Tustin Community Foundation: Grab and Go Food

Grab and Go lunch and breakfast at no cost to children 18 and under
Children must be present at pick up
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. weekdays
Robert Heideman Elementary School, 15571 Williams Street
A.G. Currie Middle School, 1401 Sycamore Avenue
Tustin High School, 1171 El Camino Real

Food Resources for Seniors

Meals on Wheels Orange County: Meals for Seniors

Up to 7 grab and go lunches to take home once a week. Must bring ID, or ID for individual who will receive the meals.
Locations: Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Westminster

Age Well Senior Services: On the Go Food for Seniors

Senior Center Grab and Go Lunch
Can get up to 3 meals
Locations: Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar, San Clemente

Irvine: Meals of Wheels

Irvine Meals on Wheels provides nutritious, healthy, great tasting meals to senior residents or other individuals who cannot prepare or shop for meals themselves.
Food for an entire day is delivered Monday through Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (949) 724-6927
Location: 20 Lake Road Irvine, CA 92604

Alzheimer’s Orange County: Grocery Stores with Special Senior Hours

Senior Services

Office on Aging:

Seniors with any need, please call 1-800-510-2020

Council on Aging Southern California

Health Insurance Counseling, Concierge Care Navigators, Answer Resource Guides, Senior Protection Program, etc.
Phone: (714) 479-0107
Location: 2 Executive Circle, Suite 175, Irvine, CA 92614

Age Well Senior Services

Provides services that promotes health and well being for seniors
Phone: (949) 855-8033
Location: 23101 Lake Center Drive, Suite 325, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Braille Institute

Services for blind and visually impaired adults. While their classes and services are temporarily suspended, they are here to provide support during the “safer-at-home” mandate by phone or online.

Covia’s Well Connected Program

In this time of separation, Well Connected and Well Connected Español are here to provide support—to provide laughs, intellectual stimulation, inspiration, conversation and more, all via groups you can join from home, by phone or online.
Phone: (877) 797-7299

Helping Hands Senior Foundation

Offer free care planning service to seniors of any income, insurance, and/or health condition.
Help people learn about great healthcare resources, housing with assistance for low income/disabled seniors and many great programs to seniors improve their quality of life.

Mental Health Services

CDC’s Mental Health Page

Center for Workplace Mental Health

CHOC Children’s: 7 Ways to Help Kids Cope with COVID-19 Anxiety

National Alliance on Mental Health: COVID-19 Guide

Mental Health America:

Tools and information on anxiety; resources for immediate response; how-to articles; webinars and workshops; articles specifically for parents, caregivers, older adults, domestic violence survivors, LGBTQ+ individuals, and veterans.

Girls Scouts of Orange County: Girls Scouts at Home

Online resource to serve all K-12 girls at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resources include access to Girl Scouts of the USA’s new online platform, featuring free, self-guided activities for K-12 girls and local activities from Girl Scouts of Orange County.

Active Minds: Resource Supporting Mental Health

Resources for students, young professionals and parents

Sanvello: App Offering Free Premium Access

On demand help with reducing stress and anxiety.

Pet Services

The Courtyard of Santa Ana

Pet food is usually available on Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m. at the Courtyard in Santa Ana.
Phone: (714) 451-6198
Location: 400 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, 92701

Calvary Chapel West Grove in Garden Grove

Pet food available at Bread of Life Pantry, Thursday’s and Friday’s from 3:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: (714) 897-8972
Location: 12832 Knott St., Garden Grove, 92841

Illumination Foundation in Stanton

Pet food is available in the food pantry, Monday Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (714) 507-2459
Location: 7855 Katella Ave., Stanton, CA 90680

Community of Christ Church in Anaheim

Pet food available through Paws for Peace pet food pantry. Open most Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Phone: (714) 535-1675
Location: 827 S Walnut St, Anaheim, CA 92802

RSM Food Pantry in Rancho Santa Margarita

Open on the first and third Wednesday’s of the month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., located at Shepard of the Hills United Methodist Church
Phone: (714) 282-3097
Location: 30605 Avenida de las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita, 92688

Christ Cathedral Community Outreach