Community Action Partnership of Orange County Works to End Local Poverty during National Community Action Month
GARDEN GROVE, CA (May 20, 2015) – Each May, Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAPOC) marks National Community Action Month by mobilizing the community to work together in order to end local hunger and poverty.
Community Action Partnership of Orange County was established in 1965 to wage the war on poverty on a personal level within Orange County’s low-income communities by promoting self-sufficiency in order to ensure that all residents are able to live in dignity; by implementing innovative and cost-effective programs to improve the lives and living conditions of the impoverished; by providing support and instruction for everyone in need of assistance; and by being a major voice of reason in establishing welfare system reforms.
“Community Action Month is a wonderful time to honor and celebrate the impact Community Action has in the lives of families and communities across the country,” stated Alan Woo, Director of Planning Community Action Partnership of OC. “Agencies are successful every day in helping families achieve economic security. Given that the needs of each family and community are unique, Community Action is able to use a range of resources and programs to meet local needs in creative and impactful ways.” On Saturday May 2nd, Community Action Partnership of Orange County’s corporate partners, donors, volunteers, board members, and other non-profit and governmental agencies came together at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach to celebrate the organization’s 50th Anniversary of moving Orange County residents out of poverty.
Despite experiencing budget cuts, shrinking resources, and increased demands for services during these challenging economic times, Community Action Partnership of Orange County has been remarkably successful assisting the low-income veterans, senior citizens, families, children, students, and disadvantaged individuals of Southern California to achieve and maintain economic security. “Our staff is committed to their task of replacing disadvantages with opportunities because it is right, because it is wise, and because, in our hearts and minds we believe it is possible to conquer poverty in our lifetime,” noted Connie Jones, Chair of the Community Action Partnership of Orange County Board of Directors and Executive Director of the Southwest Community Center.
In celebration of Community Action Month, CAPOC will be hosting a series of activities: Their Community Partnership and Services Department will host a discussion on “Successful Lessons from Three Orange County Cities: Working in Tandem with Government and Community Advocates of a Healthy City”, Wednesday, May 27th (7:30-9:30 AM), at Northgate Gonzalez Market Corporate Offices (1201 N. Magnolia Ave., Anaheim CA 92801). Please RSVP to Marleen: 714-897-6670 x3404
The public is encourage to attend their Public Hearing on “Ending Poverty in Orange County” on Wednesday, May 27th at 4:00 PM at their CAPOC’s offices at 11870 Monarch Street, in Garden Grove.
You can also participate in National Community Action Month by volunteering with one of their programs: Packing food boxes to feed the hungry at the OC Food Bank; tutoring youth and helping seniors at their two Family Resources Centers; hosting a canned food drive; hosting a school supplies drive for their Backpacks for Success program; donating to CAPOC in support of their anti-poverty and community action programs; donating funds to help low-income residents to conserve energy; or by raising awareness that in Orange County more children are going hungry every day.
