Hi Ladies,

The Holiday season is fast approaching! In the Spirit of the Giving,
I was asked to head-up something we could do as a group for the holidays.

I have done some research and have decided to go with the Orangewood
Children's Foundation. The Foundation focuses on helping foster youth
"age-out" of the system successfully. They also help sustain the
Children's Home. Currently in Orange County, 300 youth emancipate
(turn 18) each year. National statistics show that 50% of those youth
will end up homeless within 12 months. Orangewood works to provide
these youth with resources, opportunities, and hope. They provide
approximately 140 bags of groceries and 75 bags of hygiene items each
month.

I think it would be great to meet their Dec. 14 deadline, so let's
bring some of their requested items to our Dec. 2 meeting.

Kristi Van Dyke-Piatkowski, the Volunteer Services Program Manager,
suggested that since we are a book club we could focus on the
teen/tween category of books to donate. She did mentioned, however,
their greatest need is for food, hygiene items, and specifically gifts
for teens.

Rebecca will also be posting a link to Orangewood Children's Foundation at http://www.socwbc.org.

Thanks in advance for all of those of you able to give this season.

Sincerely,
--
McKenzi Taylor,
for SOCWBC