this is success. orange county rescue mission
60 years of service
What is success?
How you define success depends on what you value most. For us, it’s defined by the positive changes in the people we serve. It’s freedom in Christ, freedom from addiction, reunification with children, an education, holding the keys to their own home, and a job that leads to a fulfilling career. Success is also 60 years of faithfully living out our mission, together with our volunteers and donors, to help countless individuals and families build sustainable lives and hope-filled futures. And we’re just getting started.
sixty years of hope, healing, and transformation
For 60 years, Orange County Rescue Mission has stood as a beacon of hope, responding to the needs of our neighbors in crisis. What began as a small, localized, faith-filled effort to help people with basic needs has grown into a countywide service organization that changes the landscape of homelessness, one life and one family at a time.
Our beginnings were humble, born out of compassion and conviction to meet people where they are, amidst their struggles – a value we continue to hold to today.
In 1963, Reverend Lewis Whitehead, a career U.S. Marine NCO stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, encountered something that would change his life – and our community – forever. Driving home one evening, he noticed a fight beneath a bridge. He got out of his car and approached the men; the presence of his 6’7” frame quelled the fight. But what gripped Rev. Whitehead was the encampment he discovered: men, women, and children living in heartbreaking conditions, hidden away in Orange County.
Compelled by the love of Jesus Christ, he began bringing food, blankets, and a listening ear. Rev. Whitehead’s simple but risky obedience to God soon grew into a ministry: The Orange County Rescue Center, which would later become the nonprofit organization known today as Orange County Rescue Mission.
From the beginning, God multiplied those small acts. Families, churches, and volunteers rallied to serve and give throughout the 1960s and ‘70s. In the 1980s, prayer over a $14,000 shortfall during the first construction project led to God’s miraculous provision, and churches united to feed thousands on Thanksgiving.
THIS YEAR,
we celebrate Orange County Rescue Mission’s 60 years of service. This report is about more than the past year – it’s a reflection on decades of transforming lives and a representation of how we define success through the eyes of the people we serve.
I can’t tell this story without saying “we,” because 60 years of service has been a shared achievement. Donors, foundations, volunteers, board members, staff, churches, and partner organizations – so many of you have played a vital role. This is our success, together. We are deeply humbled by the commitment and generosity of the countless unsung heroes who make Orange County Rescue Mission what it is today.
2025 also marked an exciting milestone at our newest campus, Double R Ranch in Trabuco Canyon. Women – and soon children – now call Double R Ranch home, joining the men already living there. This expansion opens the doors for more single mothers with children, those most often on our Village of Hope waiting list, to receive the life-changing support the Ranch provides.
While it’s inspiring to look back, my role as President is to listen, learn, and lead forward. The Executive Team and our Board of Directors have launched a bold five-year strategic plan to deepen our impact and reach even more people in crisis. We’re thrilled for what is to come – the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the people who will move from crisis to healthy, sustainable, hope-filled futures.
Here’s to celebrating 60 years of life-changing work – and to the next chapter of hope, growth, and transformation!
Bryan Crain, President and CEO
EXPANDING HOW WE SERVE
Expanding our service became the focus in the 1990s with the addition of House of Hope for women and children. This marked the beginning of a new era –seeing the needs of people within our community and responding to the evolving landscape of people in crisis by offering a hand up instead of a handout. In the last thirty years, we have opened nine campuses and numerous programs and services within each.
With growth comes the need for partnership. The donor and volunteer base has grown exponentially, made up of individuals, families, churches, schools, foundations, organizations, and corporations. Orange County Rescue Mission has become a powerful avenue for people to give back and make a difference.
THIS IS SUCCESS
We measure success in many ways – by the number of people served, meals provided, and bed nights offered, and by each person whose life is changed today because of a Rescue Mission program. But just as importantly, we define success through the stories that fill these pages: parents reunited with their children, men and women set free from addiction, families rebuilding their lives together –transformations that are standing the test of time.
We have continued to grow and serve without incurring debt or receiving government funding. Instead, this work is fueled by the generosity of partners like you and sustained through careful stewardship. These values
may seem counterintuitive to our growth mindset, but it has kept us humbly dependent on God’s provision and the compassion of others, often leading to a clearer path for the way forward.
From our early years, when people struggled to believe there were people in need in Orange County, we have challenged the status quo. We participate in forums, sharing the statistics of proven strategies that have been developed with intentional focus on what it takes for someone to transition from homelessness to a sustainable and healthy life. Orange County Rescue Mission is recognized as a national leader in our field. We are honored to serve other communities facing similar challenges by sharing our model and best practices.
Thank you for standing with us as we continue this lifesaving mission. With grateful hearts, we look back on 60 years of God’s faithfulness. With joyful hope, we look to the decades to come, eager to see thousands more lives rescued and redeemed by God’s grace at work in our community through Orange County Rescue Mission.
OUR MISSION
To minister the love of Jesus Christ to the Least, the Last, and the Lost of our Community through the provision of assistance in the areas of guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care, and independent living communities.
Revered Lewis Whitehead and his wife during chapel.
servingfamilies
THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO
Charles & Natalie Pelser
Charles describes a recent moment, sitting in the audience at his daughter’s band concert. “I looked around and just felt as if God was telling me, ‘This is what you prayed for, man.’” Evenings like this, that seem typical to others, once seemed so far out of reach for Charles.
Both Charles and Natalie were drawn into addiction as teenagers. For Charles, it began during his first year of college, when partying quickly spiraled into an allconsuming lifestyle of alcohol, meth, and cocaine. Natalie’s pathway into addiction started after losing her mother at just 19; she turned to drugs to cope with the grief she couldn’t carry.
They met, fell in love, and tried to build a life together. They welcomed their first child, but instead of stabilizing, their addictions deepened. Two more children followed, and the weight of parenting while ensnared in substance abuse eventually tore their family apart.
After losing custody of their children, Charles and Natalie separated. Charles leaned on his family to get by and regain custody of the children. At the same time, Natalie drifted further into addiction and homelessness.
Charles threw himself into everything the program offered – attending classes, developing his parenting skills, and providing stability for his kids.
He graduated as valedictorian, moved into Alumni Housing, and began to rebuild his career. Starting at an entry position washing cars at Patterson Autos, he proved dependable and hardworking. Today, he thrives as a successful sales professional, able to support his children with a career he is both proud of and grateful for. Throughout this time, Charles prayed for Natalie. “I had to learn to forgive her, even when she wasn’t ready to change,” he recalls. “She was still their mom, and I believed God had more for her.” The children prayed for her, too, never losing hope or love for their mom.
After exhausting every option and realizing his children needed more than he could provide, Charles walked through the doors of Orange County Rescue Mission. Here, everything began to change. He encountered the love of Jesus Christ, learned forgiveness, and discovered a community that held him accountable.
I lost 22 years of my life to addiction. I’m not giving it another minute. God has restored everything – our home, family, and future.
For years, Natalie resisted. She wasn’t ready mentally, emotionally, or spiritually to lay down her addictions. But in 2022, she reached a breaking point. Homeless and depleted in every way, she admitted she needed help. Charles and the children met with her and gave Natalie a choice: if she wanted to be part of the family again, she had to go to the Rescue Mission. Natalie agreed. Determined to fight for her future, she entered the program.
In the Rescue Mission kitchen, preparing meals, connecting with volunteers, and serving alongside her peers, Natalie rebuilt her skills and confidence. For the first time in decades, she experienced real freedom from addiction. In 2024, she graduated, also as valedictorian. Immediately afterward, Charles proposed. After 19 years together, they were finally married – this time with a foundation rooted in Jesus Christ.
Today, Charles and Natalie live as a restored family with their three children. All three are believers who have witnessed firsthand the transformation of their parents’ lives. Natalie developed the skills and love for preparing food for others at the Rescue Mission and now works as a chef at a popular restaurant.
For Charles and Natalie, success is the ability to live a “normal” life filled with faith, love, and stability. Their days look very different now: family dinners around the table, planning camping trips, and even celebrating small milestones like buying their first matching bedroom set. After years of chaos, these simple joys feel like miracles.
“The Rescue Mission gave me Jesus, and Jesus gave me my wife back,” Charles says. Natalie adds, “I lost 22 years of my life to addiction. I’m not giving it another minute. God has restored everything – our home, family, and future.”
Yolie and Humberto are regulars at Orange County Rescue Mission events and alumni gatherings at Village of Hope. Some might imagine the Village to be a place they would never want to return to – a place where they were once homeless, living among others who were homeless. But they describe visiting Village of Hope as returning “home” and a “place of refuge.” They are reminded that they are “part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are part of a community where so many people get helped. At VOH we learned that what we have – family, marriage, His love – is more than we deserve.” They enjoy reconnecting with old
Yolie and Humberto
friends, and the fond memories from their time at Village of Hope continue to re energize them.
Of course, what they share with people living at Village of Hope and with their alumni friends is the season of desperation and crisis that led them to Orange County Rescue Mission.
When Yolie, Humberto, and their four children – all under the age of 10 at the time – arrived in Orange County, they carried great hope of a fresh start. The seven years leading up to 2015 in Nevada had been a slow and agonizing series of losses: employment, their home, their savings. Day after day of searching for work and only finding dead end jobs eroded their hope and confidence. Their marriage was crumbling. They had nothing left but a shaky faith in God, and they held on for the sake of their kids.
Finally, Humberto was offered what he was told would be a “sure thing” – an ideal job. However, the job was in Orange County. With nothing to lose, the family packed up their minivan and headed west, full of excitement and hope that this was the breakthrough they had prayed for. But shortly after arriving, the job fell through, and Humberto found himself searching for work again. Only now, the family of six was living out of their van by day and relying on a church in Orange for shelter and meals by night.
A volunteer at the church told them about Orange County Rescue Mission. Little did they know that their dreams would come true, at the Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope. In December 2015, the family moved into the Village, graduating 18 months later in June 2017. During that time, their definition of “success” was reshaped, shifting from the old version they had been chasing before the recession to something deeper. At Village of Hope, they gained perspective, learned from mistakes, developed new job skills, found community, and discovered a new way of living.
into influencer status, sharing videos that speak to people’s hearts with God’s truth and love. She recalls a class at Village of Hope that completely changed her mindset – learning how God loves her and accepts her as His daughter – and that shapes the messages she shares on her channel.
Yolie shares that she now has peace and confidence since choosing to live according to God’s ways and passing that on to her children and others. Humberto looks back to the years when they nearly lost everything, including their marriage, and is grateful now to be rich in the things that last – the goodness God provides, a strong marriage to a loving and godly wife, and their close knit family.
Today, Humberto works in maintenance at UCI and is studying for his HVAC certification in commercial systems. He says, “I feel young!” as he takes classes after a long day of work. He is grateful to provide for his family, set goals, and accomplish them. Yolie has grown her Instagram account
KENNY
From Street Life TO HOME LIFE.
Kenny smiles as he shares photos from a recent family trip to Catalina Island and talks about his teenage daughter running for ASB president. It’s hard to imagine that nine years ago, this joyful man and proud father was sleeping in a gutter, broken by addiction and grief.
“From the gutter to God,” Kenny says simply.
After 40 years of drug and alcohol addiction, and overwhelmed by the loss of his mother, Kenny was at rock bottom when a police officer picked him up, put him into his patrol car, and brought him to Orange County Rescue Mission.
During his 17month stay at the Rescue Mission starting in 2016, Kenny found more than just shelter – he found restoration. The community, structure, and spiritual guidance gave him the tools to rebuild. He maintained sobriety. He learned biblical principles of living God’s way and the power of staying rooted in community. He became known as the “Bard of the Rescue Mission,” always ready with a worship song – he knows over 300 by heart. “There’s no way I would have succeeded without a solid foundation in the Lord,” he says.
Kenny graduated from the program, secured a stable job as a forklift operator, and moved into his own apartment. Not long after, he reconnected with Shawna, his daughter’s mother. Shawna, herself, was battling addiction, job loss, and grieving a loss in her life. Guided by his faith, Kenny demonstrated to Shawna how God had changed his life, and he supported her on the road to recovery. In 2019, they were married, finally giving their daughter the stable, loving home she had always needed.
That same year, Kenny returned to the Rescue Mission as a staff member, first as the Landscaping and Janitorial
Supervisor. Today, six years later, he serves as a Case Manager, guiding men like Clinton and Pedro in the same place he once was. He uses the tools he learned at the Rescue Mission and has developed new skill sets to help others transform their lives.
“When I left the Rescue Mission, I just tried to be the best forklift driver I could be,” Kenny shares. “Now, I pray God helps me be the best father, husband, and Case Manager I could be.”
Kenny with outreach officers and his wife and daughter.
CLINTON
Clinton came to Orange County Rescue Mission broken and out of options. Years of homelessness and binge drinking left him teetering on the edge of death. After many attempts to get sober, Clinton had to finally admit he couldn’t do it on his own or in his own way. He needed help from God and the guidance of a sober community.
“When I came into the Rescue Mission, I felt like I could breathe again,” Clinton shares.
“You can pause all the stress and panic and actually heal.”
Today, Clinton is rebuilding his life. He earned his GED, completed therapy,
and gained handson culinary experience working in the Rescue Mission’s kitchen. He also discovered a passion for achievement through the Up & Running Again program, where small wins develop into new mindsets as people train to run a halfmarathon. “I started to realize I was capable of more,” he says.
Clinton now holds a food handler’s license and is a chef at a local restaurant. “This is the longest I’ve been sober since I was a kid,” Clinton says. He now sees true success as living a life aligned with God’s will, one rooted in sobriety, purpose, and service. “I’m turning my hurt and pain into something that helps others,” he says. “I’m building a life I can be proud of, not ashamed of.”
When I came into the Rescue Mission, I felt like I could breathe again.
Clinton with Kenny, his case manager.
PEDRO
For most of his life, Pedro was caught in a destructive cycle of drug use, jail time, and failed attempts at sobriety. Introduced to drugs at just 13, he became what he calls a “functioning addict,” unable to imagine life beyond the next high. Even when he tried to quit for his family, temptation would pull him back in.
During his last jail stint in 2023, Pedro felt God tugging at his heart. “I don’t want this for my kids. I don’t want them to grow up this way,” he realized. He reached out to Orange County Rescue Mission, and he and his five children were accepted.
At first, staying sober and parenting five children alone was daunting. But with the support of his family, OCRM’s programs and services, his family began to thrive. “This
is the most stability we’ve ever had,” Pedro says. He earned his GED, enrolled in welding courses at Orange Coast College, and is working toward a stable career.
“The change in my life is like night and day,” he shares. “Now, I’m providing for my family, staying sober, and following the Lord’s lead. If He can get me through this, He can get anyone through.”
This the most stability I’ve ever had.
ALUMNI LEGACIES
LONG TERM SUCCESS
PEPPER
Pepper’s life before Orange County Rescue Mission was marked by chaos. On her own since she was 16 years old and surrounded by addiction growing up, she longed for the stability she never had. She struggled with her own addiction for years, cycling through recovery programs that never stuck –until she and her family arrived at the Rescue Mission in 2014.
Through the Village of Hope and Alumni Housing programs, Pepper found the time, structure, and support she needed to create lasting change. She achieved sobriety and discovered a new sense of purpose from her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Today, she’s back at the Rescue Mission, but this time as a staff member. As the Ongoing Education Care Coordinator, she maintains the alumni program for approximately 400 alumni who have stayed in contact with the Rescue Mission. Recovery is a lifelong journey that requires diligence to keep from slipping back into old mindsets and behaviors. Drawing on her own journey through addiction and homelessness, Pepper helped the Rescue Mission create a program that supports people in sustaining and building upon the life changes they made while “in the program.”
The robust alumni care program includes practical support, crisis support, social events, personal finance classes, relapse prevention, and lifelong friendship. Recently, Pepper launched an Alumni Advisory Board composed of nine fellow graduates, empowering
them to give back to the Rescue Mission, serve as role models for people newer in the Rescue Mission program, and deepen the network of care.
Pepper defines her success by the very things she once feared she would never have: a stable life for her two sons, continued sobriety, and the opportunity to walk alongside others as they pursue hope, healing, and a future filled with possibility and purpose.
BUD
Growing up in the ‘70s amid the rising drug culture, Bud fell into a party lifestyle that became a 35-year addiction. The chaos strained his relationships, led to divorce, and left him struggling to raise his children.
When his mother died of cancer in 2007, guilt consumed him that he hadn’t turned his life around while she was still alive.
In 2008, a friend dropped Bud off at Orange County Rescue Mission’s original office in Santa Ana, where he learned about Double R Ranch. (At that time, Double R Ranch was located in Warner Springs.) To Bud, it sounded perfect – exactly what he needed. At the Ranch, God gave him what he had been miss ing in his life: structure, honest work, and a
Bud and his grandson Isaac
Christcentered community. “God put me in a safe place where I could breathe, heal, and be surrounded by His people,” Bud says.
After graduating from the Rescue Mission, he continued his connection with it through employment and the alumni program. Bud was grateful to be sober during the last years with his father while caring for him until he passed away.
Bud was determined never to let his grandchildren see him under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That promise took on new meaning in 2020 when he became the fulltime guardian of his 16 yearold grandson, Isaac. Now retired, Bud and Isaac are hoping and praying for their dream of buying a home in Alabama, where their extended family resides.
“Success,” Bud says, “is trusting God’s plan, staying connected to the body of Christ, and being a man my family can depend on.”
DEBORAH & BELINDA
When Deborah arrived at Orange County Rescue Mission in 2009, she had been trapped in addiction for four decades, starting at the age of 13. An abusive 20 year marriage only deepened her drug use as she tried to numb the pain. Though raised around church, she had never truly known the Lord.
Deborah’s wakeup call came when she lost her grandchildren to social services while living at a hotel. Distraught, she came to the Rescue Mission for help. The early months were overwhelming, and she often considered leaving. But week by week, God softened her heart, drew her closer to Him, and surrounded her with a loving community.
By the time Deborah graduated the program in 2012, she had her sobriety, her dignity, and had even been blessed with a car to get to work. At the age of 53, she ran her first halfmarathon. Most importantly, God restored her relationship with her two children, twelve grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
Now sober 16 years and retired, Deborah regularly returns to encourage other women at the Rescue Mission. She maintains lifelong friendships with fellow graduates, including her best friend of 10 years, Belinda.
Success for Deborah is having God and her family back in her life. “Looking back, I see the Lord’s goodness all throughout my life,” she says. “He was there the whole time, even when I didn’t realize it.”
Belinda grew up in a loving Christian home, but as an adult, poor choices and broken relationships led her down a destructive path. Addiction took root, fueled by years of abuse, loss, and deep guilt over her adult son’s death. In her pain, she pushed everyone in her life away, and her addiction spiraled out of control.
One night, desperate and ready to give up, Belinda prayed for God to either give her the strength to end her life or to change it. Days later, a former friend – seemingly a different person, changed from her time at Orange County Rescue Mission – knocked on her door. Seeing the light of Jesus Christ in her friend’s eyes, Belinda knew she wanted the same hope.
At the Rescue Mission, she surrendered her life to Jesus and the help offered to her. Through counseling, her volunteer job assignment in the kitchen, and the love and prayers of staff and students, she broke free from addiction and shame. God restored her relationships with her children and gave her a new purpose.
Today, Belinda has been sober for 15 years, works fulltime as a case manager at a recuperative care program, and uses her testimony to walk alongside others facing homelessness and addiction.
“ Looking back, I see the Lord’s goodness all throughout my life.”
For Belinda, one of the greatest blessings from her time at the Rescue Mission is the lifelong friendships she built, especially with her dear friend Deborah. “She’s an amazing person and has such a great heart,” Belinda says. “I’m so thankful for these relationships with Deborah and the OCRM alumni community to have friendships I can count on.”
Deborah and Belinda
Bridgette in her two roles – professional and mother.
rising tragedy to victory
above BRIDGETTE
Bridgette wanted to break the cycle. She longed to be the hero of her own story – to change her life and create a better future. But desire alone wasn’t enough. She needed resources, guidance, and healing to overcome addiction and the deep wounds that led to her homelessness. Without that support, Bridgette found herself caught in the same revolving door of addiction and abusive relationships that had defined her parents’ lives.
nose, and ribs. After ten days in a coma, she faced the daunting task of relearning how to walk, talk, and eat. Although her hospital stay kept her away from drugs temporarily, the emotional pain and destructive patterns remained unresolved, and she soon relapsed after her release.
Yet even after everything, Bridgette didn’t give up. In 2020, she found her way to Orange County Rescue Mission, holding onto a fragile hope that she
And she tapped into a newly discovered ambition. Inspired by her own recovery and the intricacies of the human body, she developed a passion for healthcare. With support from the Rescue Mission, she began pursuing a degree in medical assisting, eager to build a stable and meaningful career that would provide for her and her daughter.
While completing her studies, Bridgette graduated from the Village
This program saved my life. I had to face the darkest parts of my past to heal, but I had the best support. I found a new version of myself.
From an early age, the trajectory of her life was shaped by chaos. For several years, her grandparents raised her, providing refuge and stability. But by high school, Bridgette was in foster care, then eventually, living in motels and on the streets. When she reunited with her mother, their bond was tragically centered on getting high together.
Losing custody of her threeyearold daughter marked what seemed like rock bottom. Then tragedy struck again – Bridgette was hit by a car. The impact broke her back, pelvis,
could rebuild her life and reunite with her daughter. Still recovering from her injuries, she embraced the opportunity with determination.
Bridgette began to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually at the Rescue Mission. Through EMDR therapy, she confronted the root causes of her addiction and the deep fears born of past abuse. She also discovered her faith in God, which is an integral part of her life. “I learned who I am and gained the confidence to be a productive member of society,” Bridgette says.
of Hope program and transitioned into House of Hope. With legal assistance from the Trinity Law Clinic, her biggest hope became a reality, and she regained custody of her daughter. She shares, “I am so grateful to be her mom. I want to show her that we can get through tough situations.”
Now, six years sober, Bridgette is just a few courses from completing her nursing program. She’s married to a wonderful Christian man she met in college and is the proud mother of newborn twin boys. “This program saved my life. I had to face the darkest
parts of my past to heal, but I had the best support. I found a new version of myself.”
For Bridgette, success is defined by the hope and confidence that have become a natural part of her life – qualities that stem from her relationship with God and the choices she makes every day. She’s living proof of the life changing power of God’s love, and she knows she will always have the support of the Rescue Mission community, what she calls “my home and my rock,” no matter what challenges lie ahead.
GABRIELLA
As Gabriella entered adulthood, she finally felt free – free from her parents’ domineering control, free to raise her daughter, and free to build the good life she had imagined for them. But when you’re a single mom barely making ends meet, one setback can unravel everything. A car breakdown triggered a painful spiral: without transportation, she lost her job, then her apartment. That gave her parents and the courts reason to take custody of her daughter – her greatest loss of all.
Gabriella tried to rebuild and fight for her daughter, but the weight of abuse, instability, and despair eventually broke her spirit. She turned to methamphetamine, and for the next eight years, the streets became her home – motels, shelters, a tent by the freeway, and finally, a tunnel beneath a building in Garden Grove.
By spring 2023, alone and pregnant with her son, Gabriella knew something had to change. During a short stay at a local program for pregnant women, she heard about Orange County Rescue Mission. Her pregnancy rekindled a spark of hope, and she
was ready to surrender. “I didn’t care what it took –I just knew it was time to get right,” she recalls.
At the Rescue Mission, Gabriella found more than a roof over her head – she found a home, a community, and a renewed faith in God. Volunteering with children and the volunteer team helped her rediscover her strengths and dreams.
I didn’t care what it took. I just knew it was time to get right.
With her dignity and confidence restored, Gabriella now defines success as setting and achieving goals. “Each small goal I achieved at the Rescue Mission made me want to do better. It built up my confidence.” Today, she’s a top performer at her company, has partial custody of her daughter, lives at House of Hope, and saves for the day when she and her children will once again live in their own home. After years of surviving alone on the streets, she says, “I feel human again.”
ROZE
Standing before the judge, Roze explained why she was ready to regain custody of her son and daughter – and why she was now a better fit than her aging parents. It was a tense, surreal 30 minutes. Deeply grateful to her mom and dad for adopting her children when she shouldn’t have raised them, this was the moment she had worked toward for nine years: to relieve them of that responsibility and reclaim her place as their mother.
To earn that right, Roze had to face her past, heal, and rebuild her life. She grew up viewing God through guilt and fear, turning to alcohol and drugs as a teen to escape shame and the harshness of her young life. By her twenties, drugs had taken hold, and what began as a way to numb her pain became an allconsuming addiction for nearly thirty years.
The trappings of addiction included an abusive marriage with the father of her three children. During her third pregnancy, Roze began to consider leaving. The turning point came after a brutal assault at a bus stop, her infant in her arms. Terrified, she fled to a safe house but couldn’t escape addiction’s grip. She drifted from one unsafe situation to the next until one day in 2016, she sat alone in a park, broken, exhausted, and out of options. There, a stranger told her about Orange County Rescue Mission. With only a week of housing vouchers left, she made the call that changed everything.
Life at Village of Hope wasn’t easy for Roze at first. After years without structure, she struggled with rules and accountability. But unlike in her childhood home, she and her youngest son encountered Godnot as a harsh judge, but as their loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Bible studies and the love filled staff, she began to grasp and experience grace, forgiveness of her sins, redemption of her past, and a new identity – not as an addict, but as a beloved daughter of God.
These truths set her soul free. Counseling and parenting classes helped her rebuild trust with her older children and learn a new way of parenting. Education and job training equipped her for a career. And the community of women around her encouraged her to dream bigger. “It gave me a desire to be a productive member of society,” she says. “I gained so much confidence along the way.”
After graduating from Village of Hope, Roze and her son transitioned through House of Hope, then Hope Family Housing, before moving into her own apartment. “The way the Rescue Mission lays out the opportunities, it builds upon itself,” she explains. Roze is a dedicated employee and today works as a Senior Licensing Officer, a role once unimaginable.
But her greatest joy is her restored family; the judge agreed, she is now a fit parent. “God’s timing is perfect,” Roze says as she reflects on the diligence and ongoing support from the Rescue Mission required to reverse the adoption. “I thought it would never happen, but He gave me custody of my kids. He keeps blessing me when I least expect it.”
Roze remains part of the Rescue Mission’s alumni community for an ongoing source of fellowship, guidance, and accountability. She frequents the Village of Hope and encourages students in the program now. At home, she leads her children in prayer and devotionals, teaching them the faith that saved her. “I don’t want anyone to feel like I did, that there’s no hope. You can always turn to God.”
For Roze, true success is about living in obedience and gratitude to God, who gave her new life. “Home is where your heart is,” she says. “And the Rescue Mission will always be home, because it’s where God made a way to get my children and build a future for the four of us, together.”
BY THE NUMBERS
WHO WE SERVE
Children: 32%
People struggling with substance use: 64%
People with mental health challenges: 31%
Veterans: 6%
Domestic violence/human trafficking survivors: 20%
People without a high school diploma: 24%
Families: 50%
DISTINCTIVE SERVICES
Specialized services that remove barriers, keep families intact, and promote health, healing, and pathways forward:
• Tattoo removal
• Dentures
• Legal services
• Mobile medical clinic
• Mentoring
• Construction training
• Animal interaction and care
• Housing for families – including single moms and single dads with kids
HOW WE INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS
32,100 hours of tutoring
7,162 case management sessions
6,622 job training sessions
202 legal consultations
25,491 life skills classes
902,211 meals
158,804 nights of safe shelter
10,893 medical and dental exams
5,515 mental health services
12,326 referrals to other resources in Orange County
THE IMPACT
23,663 people served through outreach and all programs
931 people enrolled in OCRM programs
64 people graduated from our program 22 families were reunified
59 faith decisions were made
100% of graduates attained HS diploma/GED
100% of graduates secured full-time employment 39% achieved highest paid job of their career
For a comprehensive list of the numbers reflecting the impact of Rescue Mission programs in 2025, go to RescueMission.org/stats.
FOLLOW OUR PATH
A 60 year journey
1963
Founder Rev. Lewis Whitehead helped homeless people with food, blankets, and a desire to share the love of Jesus Christ with those in need.
1970s
Services and items given to people in need increased dramatically, fueled by local church involvement, including Operation Love with Vineyard Anaheim and Mariners Church’s singles group.
1976
1990
OCRM added residential services and the New Life program for men.
The City of Santa Ana condemned the building on Sycamore, stating it was blighted, and the lot was slated for redevelopment. OCRC lacked adequate funds to relocate, and every attempt was met with the NIMBY mindset –“not in my backyard”– by both residents and the city government.
1968
Volunteerism began when Joni Sonnenberg and her sister started serving. Joni and her husband, Bruce, are still volunteers.
1965
Rev. Whitehead’s ministry becomes Orange County Rescue Center (OCRC), operating out of a small office above a shoe store in downtown Santa Ana.
1970
OCRC relocated to 214 N. Sycamore in Santa Ana.
1982
1999
The City of Tustin selected OCRM to receive 5.1 acres of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station Tustin property to build Village of Hope.
1994
House of Hope in Orange opened with the residential New Life Program for single women and children, and later became a transitional and affordable housing site for women and children at risk for homelessness and OCRM graduates.
With support from local pastors, donors, volunteers, philanthropist Howard Ahmanson, and pro bono legal services, OCRC rebuilt at 1901 Walnut in Santa Ana. OCRC was renamed Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM).
PATH OF SUCCESSES
2000 & 2003
OCRM launched two mobile medical clinics to provide healthcare to people living in shelters and motels throughout Orange County.
2008
Village of Hope in Tustin opened to serve homeless men, women, and families.
2016
Tustin Veterans Outpost opened to serve homeless veterans and provides transi-
2009
Trinity Law Clinic opened on the Village of Hope campus to help students resolve outstanding legal issues
2008
Hurtt Family Health Clinic opened its first clinic at Village of Hope to serve students and the public.
2003 & 2008
Hope Family Housing opened locations in Orange and Buena Park, providing transitional and affordable housing for families at risk of homelessness and OCRM graduates.
2018
The Strong Beginnings program launched to provide emergency housing and services to women survivors of human trafficking.
2023
Double R Ranch, relocated to Trabuco Canyon, opened to serve single men.
2011
The Sunwest Bank Success Center opened on the Village of Hope campus, providing continuing education, life skills training, and career development services.
2014
2018
The Alumni Ongoing Education program launched to serve OCRM graduates.
OCRM acquired Hope Harbor (formerly Laurel
2025
The women’s program opened at Double R Ranch, creating more space for single women and their children and fulfilling one of the primary purposes for relocating the ranch to Orange County.
OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT
KIM
For 18 years, Kim ran from everyone who cared about her. Three failed marriages, a decade in and out of jail, and three decades of drug abuse left her with nothing – no home, no work history, no family. In her 20s, she lost custody of her three young sons, two to a closed adoption. Kim knew her boys needed more than her feelings of love; they needed stability. The loss of her sons deepened
Today, she works for a company that manages commercial properties across Southern California and has been promoted to supervise front desk managers at five locations. “Going from a dope fiend in and out of jail to who I am today – I owe it all to God and the Rescue Mission.”
Then came the miracle she thought was impossible: reunion with her sons. Almost four years ago, she re
Success to me is doing right, living right, and being able to take care of myself.
her devastation, and she turned to drugs to numb her pain and her remorse. But her struggles didn’t begin there. At 18, Kim left home, got married, and was quickly swept up in tragedy: her stepsister was murdered and her young marriage collapsed. These losses and the injustice of her sister’s murder unleashed the emotional turmoil that unintentionally spread to her family.
The chaos consumed her for years. In 2018, she was in jail once again, and desperate for change. “As soon as this is over, God, guide my steps,” she prayed. Her prayer was answered when an Outreach Coordinator told her about Orange County Rescue Mission.
Upon her release in June 2019, Kim found her way to the Rescue Mission from Riverside County. Temptations to detour were strong, but she knew this was her chance. “My life has never been the same,” she says.
Kim gained so much from the moment she entered Village of Hope. She learned the value of and practiced integrity, responsibility, and accountability until they became part of her. She grew into a genuine relationship with God. She received trauma counseling, job training, and financial guidance. After graduating from the program, she paid off her court debts, restored her credit, and bought a car. She also ended a toxic marriage to a husband unwilling to get clean, had her record expunged, and, for the first time, began to dream about her future.
With a new foundation in place, Kim turned her focus toward work. Despite having almost no job history, she found stable employment and quickly proved herself.
ceived a call she never dared to hope she would hear. After looking for years, one of her sons found her and wanted to meet. Today, Kim is reunited with all three of her sons, two of whom live in Arkansas with their own families. “God had already healed and redeemed me before they even found me. But having them back made me whole.” She visits them in Arkansas regularly and plans to buy a home there in 2026.
“Success to me is doing right, living right, and being able to take care of myself,” Kim says. “Before, my life was so chaotic, without direction or joy. Now, I live in gratitude. I love getting up and going to work every day.”
Kim with her sons and her mom.
JOYCE
Life at the Rescue Mission initially shocked Joyce, but in a positive way. Though she felt out of place, the staff and volunteers treated her kindly and instilled a sense of dignity she had never known.
By the age of 49, Joyce had spent more of her life institutionalized than in a home. At a young age, she was lured into the action of a nearby neighborhood rife with drugs while her parents were at work. Soon her life dissolved into shuffling through group homes, juvenile hall, prison, addiction, and an emergency room visit with a near death experience .
During her last incarceration, a cellmate persuaded her to try rehab upon release. Joyce only planned to get clean to meet parole conditions before returning to drugs. But in rehab, everything changed – she encountered God. In 2014, her parole officer referred her to Orange County Rescue Mission. Having spent so much of her life “on the inside,” Joyce needed support to stay sober and the tools to build a new life. For the first time, she committed to a positive path.
Today, Joyce passionately shares biblical truth. Many remember the “old” Joyce in her former neighborhood and are curious about her change. She eagerly points them to Jesus Christ, and her transformation has blessed her family.
Success isn’t money – it’s using my testimony to bring others into the light.
Over the next four and a half years at Village of Hope and House of Hope, Joyce rebuilt her life and paid off $70,000 owed to the state. She earned her high school diploma and invested in one of her greatest loves –studying the Bible. She graduated from Bible college, gaining knowledge and insight for her personal growth and to pass on to others.
Now a case manager at Orange County Rescue Mission, Joyce guides women through struggles she has overcome, teaching them a way of life built on good character and the love of Jesus Christ. Returning wasn’t an easy choice because she earned a good living at her former job. But she followed God’s nudge. “I’m still sober; I’m still with Jesus. Success isn’t money – it’s using my testimony to bring others into the light.”
Joyce meets with students.
DETERMINATION & AMBITION
LEAD TO CAREER SUCCESS
raeonce dreamed of playing professional basketball overseas, but an injury ended her prospects of playing beyond college. She tried to fill the void with other ambitions, each bringing a brief season of feeling successful, only to fizzle out.
In her twenties, Rae earned a solid income as a recruiter and rented a beautiful home in Laguna Beach. Outwardly, she looked successful. But inside, she was bitter and resentful. Any hardship fueled her sense of entitlement, and she wondered why others seemed to have it easier. “I didn’t want to work for things,” she recalls. “If I couldn’t have something, I’d just take it.”
That mindset eventually caught up to her. She spiraled into a life of dishonesty and stealing, pushing away anyone who tried to help. Though she wasn’t abusing substances, she was addicted to control and selfcenteredness. Eventually, she lost her job and her stability.
Rae found herself homeless, living on Skid Row. Nights were terrifying, and she was humiliated standing in free food lines or being filmed by TV crews. “I never expected to be here in my 30s, yet here I am,” she remembers thinking. For the first time, she realized that bitterness and unforgiveness were what destroyed her life. “It was me. I was the problem.”
On Skid Row, Rae surrendered her life to God. She discovered that money, status, and people could never completely fulfill her – only Jesus could. “Okay, God, I give up. You can have my life,” she prayed. She even reached a point of peace, believing she might have a purpose on Skid Row: to tell others about Jesus Christ.
Then Rae learned about Orange County Rescue Mission. Moving into the program in 2014 gave her safety, stability, and space to be still before God. “I took a hard look at myself. I was unaccustomed to being a woman of integrity,” she says. At the Rescue Mission, she built upon the foundation God had laid during her time on the streets, learning to live with humility, gratitude, and faithfulness. She also practiced celebrating the blessings and successes of others, guarding her heart against the bitterness that once consumed her.
As Rae’s mind cleared and she pondered her next steps after the program, she considered caregiving. It was selfless work caring for others, and she had prior experience. But God had other plans far beyond what she could imagine. She worked in the Rescue Mission’s kitchen, washing dishes, and then moved into cooking
alongside volunteer chefs. They quickly recognized her gift and encouraged her to pursue it. “I had always loved cooking, but I never thought I could do it as a career,” she admits.
As she prayed for direction, every open door led to culinary work. After graduating from the Rescue Mission in 2015, Rae took a temporary job as a cook for a catering company. She fell in love with the work, especially in kitchens where everything was made from scratch, just like at the Rescue Mission. Today, Rae is an executive chef for DreamWorks Animation, where she has worked for the past six years. “I’m living a dream I didn’t know I had,” she marvels. “It’s what I was created to do.”
For Rae, true success has nothing to do with titles, money, or material things. “Goals are important, but my first focus is always getting closer to God and growing in surrender. Everything else is temporary.” With a home, a car, and a career she loves, Rae is so far from where she was on Skid Row. But most importantly, she has a life rooted in Jesus Christ. As she reflected, “God could have left me on Skid Row. But He didn’t, and I am forever grateful.”
KurtAs a child, Kurt’s family was afflicted with challenges and instability. His stability and peace came from his grandmother, Marilyn, a strong woman who raised him to know God. When Kurt was twelve, Marilyn was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and suddenly passed away.
“ Success at this point in my life is not leaning on my own understanding.”
In the years that followed, Kurt and his family collapsed. As Kurt described it, “The cavalry didn’t show up, but the wolves did.” By fourteen, he had dropped out of high school and was engaged in a life that so many who come to the Rescue Mission, unfortunately, know. By nineteen, he had no place to call home, and his health had spiraled.
When his aunt told him about Orange County Rescue Mission, Kurt welcomed the kind of relief that only the Village of Hope, through God, can bring. He remembers the love, accountability, and community waking up at 5 a.m. to cook breakfast for people, playing basketball, hearing morning devotionals, and attending chapel.
With encouragement from his case manager, Kurt enrolled in college classes where he discovered a transformative passion for learning. In August 2025, he earned his Doctorate in Education, completing a fifteenyear journey that began at the Mission. Today, as Director of Workforce Development for a community college district, he helps people experiencing challenges find access to resources, attain skills, and pursue careers.
Reflecting on his journey, Kurt says, “The Rescue Mission is a force multiplier. You can recognize a tree by its fruit.”
When he returns to encourage current Rescue Mission students, he tells them, “It’s my opinion that you are the luckiest person in the world. You are in a place that is designed to build you and support you. God is here.” When asked what success looks like for him, Kurt paused and reflected for a moment: “Success at this point in my life is not leaning on my own understanding but trusting the Lord our God in all my ways. Success is being able to walk into a room and help someone, and not hurt them, just as the Lord did for me through Orange County Rescue Mission.”
michelle & joe
“Lost, unstable, and strung out,” is how Michelle describes her life before coming to Orange County Rescue Mission. “I was trapped in addiction, hopeless, and convinced I was a terrible mother.” Her attempts to build a career and a healthy family failed. Her teenage daughter wanted nothing to do with her. Her feelings of love for her family weren’t enough to provide what her three girls needed. Even her mother and sister had spiraled into addiction. Joe, Michelle’s husband, was stuck in the same cycle: estranged from his kids and battling his own “demons.” Though he knew God was real, he chose to run in the opposite direction. He didn’t know that God would accept him as he was – even while in his addiction.
All of their previous attempts to get sober failed, despite the gnawing guilt about the mess they had made of their lives, which continued to get worse with every passing year.
THE SUCCESS CENTER
The Success Center offers an array of programs to equip homeless men and women with the skills to achieve lasting financial self-sufficiency, including:
• Workforce Development Workshops
Comprehensive preparation in looking for a job, including resume writing, mock interviews, career coaching, and networking training. 100% of program graduates secure full-time employment.
• Education Completion and Advancement
Tutoring to complete high school diploma/GED and support pursuing advanced vocational certifications. 100% of program graduates receive their high school diplomas and over 50% obtain the highest paying position of their working careers.
• Financial Literacy and Life Skills Training
Diverse curriculum designed to promote ongoing self-reliance covering topics such as communication, time management, building and restoring credit, and budgeting. OCRM graduates save an average of $10,000.
• Vocational Experience
Homeless men and women work in a variety of volunteer jobs while living on our campus, in areas such as accounting, administrative support, childcare, data entry, facility maintenance, food services, and warehouse operations. These positions provide hands-on job experience and training.
Since 2018, 85% of OCRM alumni have maintained employment, illustrating the success of this multifaceted approach to financial independence.
Then, in 2015, they found Orange County Rescue Mission. A program that welcomed them as a family, including their youngest daughter, Lucy, was an unheardof opportunity. With renewed hope, they decided to try again. “When we walked in, it was so beautiful here that we didn’t think we were good enough for this place,” Michelle admits. But instead, staff and volunteers met them with the love of Jesus Christ and without judgment; they were surprised by the grace they received. “People who didn’t know me wanted to help me. I wasn’t lovable, but they loved me anyway,” Joe recalls.
During their time at the Rescue Mission, they embraced the truth of how and why they were loved at Village of Hope because God loved us all first. They worked hard, developed job and life skills, and began to believe in themselves again. The law clinic helped Joe expunge 13 felonies from his record. Marriage counseling taught them to put God at the center of their relationship, to forgive quickly, and to extend grace.
“I’m a whole different person,” Michelle says. Joe calls himself “a new creation in Christ.” He’s held the same job for seven years – the longest in his life – in a growing career as an HVAC technician. “The word ‘trusted’ means a lot to me,” he says. “The way the Rescue Mission gives you little bits of responsibility as an opportunity to build up trust – it means so much to an addict who’s lost the trust of everyone in their life.”
The powerful changes in their lives impacted their families as well. Joe has renewed relationships with his children, grandchildren, and extended family. Michelle’s mother and sister are now sober as well, thanks to the support of Michelle and Joe. Michelle has a beautiful relationship with her onceestranged daughter who has blessed them with a soninlaw and three grandchildren.
For years, Michelle attempted to complete her college education, but addiction always got in the way. While in the Village of Hope program, she made it her ambition to complete her education and work as a case manager for the Rescue Mission; she wanted to be part of the work of rescuing people from addiction and homelessness. Upon graduating from the Rescue Mission, Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in human services, became a certified drug and alcohol counselor, and is working toward her master’s in social work. She returned to the Rescue Mission, employed as a case manager and eventually promoted to the Manager of Village of Hope.
“This place raised me up, invested in me, and restored me. I believe in what we do here with every ounce of my soul,” she says. Joe sums it up nicely. “There’s nothing too hard here. If the Rescue Mission doesn’t yet have the resources [to meet a need], they will figure out a way. The Rescue Mission invests in people’s success.”
What once seemed impossible – sobriety, stability, restored family, and dream careers – has become their everyday reality, and their story is still unfolding.
Joe and Michelle with their daughter, Lucy.
AHMANSONS
Homelessness crushes the spirit and sense of selfworth in so many. Orange County Rescue Mission is unique in its approach of creating beautiful spaces as one of multiple ways to restore self esteem and value in the homeless families and individuals we serve. The Ahmanson Family has been an integral supporter of Orange County Rescue Mission for nearly fifty years, helping us actualize this distinctive belief regarding beauty to create scenic, homey environments that point homeless men, women, and children to their worth in the eyes of their Creator.
Howard Ahmanson was first introduced to Orange County Rescue Mission in the late 1970s through his Mariners Church singles group. In addition to accompanying hymns on the piano and offering financial literacy advice to students, Howard financed the legal campaign to establish the Rescue Mission’s first headquarters and shelter homeless men and women. Years later when OCRM secured five acres to create the Village of Hope transitional hous
ing campus in Tustin, Howard’s wife Roberta was pivotal in realizing the concept of the “power that beauty can have for transformation.” Roberta recruited Danish artist Peter Brandes and American sculptor Albert Paley, as well as several designers, to beautify the Village of Hope campus, renovating the functional former Marine base into a gracious welcoming environment through the “The Color of Hope” room decoration project, stained glass windows for the chapel, an 18 foot ceramic vase in the courtyard, and a ceremonial gate at the entrance.
Through these initiatives and years of faithful partnership, the Ahmanson Family has enabled OCRM to transform the lives of thousands of homeless families, restoring dignity and equipping them with the tools to build independent lives. We are so grateful for the Ahmanson Family’s instrumental leadership and support!
...Helping us actualize this distinctive belief regarding beauty to create scenic, homey environments that point homeless men, women, and children to their worth in the eyes of their creator.
Village of Hope courtyard
CHICK-FIL-A
Orange County Rescue Mission has been blessed by the partnership of three local ChickfilA Operators whose enthusiasm has inspired support at local, corporate, and even national levels.
It began several years ago when Peter Brakke, then Operator of ChickfilA at The District in Tustin, first visited Village of Hope. “I was shocked that on the same property that had previously been the base was this incredible facility where people were being poured into spiritually, provided with all they needed, and being equipped to move forward with a brighter future. I was immediately hooked to the Mission!” Peter’s passion continues today as he now operates the Santa Ana ChickfilA on 17th Street and Tustin Avenue.
Another dedicated supporter, Craig Takata, Operator of the UCI and Fashion Island ChickfilA locations, shares that his family’s commitment is rooted in shared values. “My wife and I value how the Rescue Mission provides support to those in need, first and foremost, in a Christcentered manner. We appreciate how the Rescue Mission has developed a very structured program to get individuals back on their feet in a selfsustaining way, all in a loving and supportive environment.”
Together with Adam Goodman, who now operates ChickfilA at The District, Craig and Peter helped
connect the Rescue Mission to ChickfilA corporate for funding. Their advocacy didn’t stop there –they championed the organization on a national stage by nominating the Rescue Mission for the ChickfilA True Inspiration Award.
Through their leadership and community mobilization, Orange County residents rallied together in support, and the Rescue Mission won the Western Region True Inspiration Award, receiving a $250,000 grant from ChickfilA. “One of my favorite memories,” Craig recalls, “was getting the support of Orange County residents, via a team of support staff and ChickfilA Operators, to vote for, and ultimately award, the grant.”
Craig and Peter’s continued involvement reflects the power of advocacy, faith, and community – and shows how a few dedicated partners can make a life changing impact for those overcoming homelessness in Orange County.
Presentation of the True Inspiration Award.
SONNENBERGS
Bruce & Joni Sonnenberg:
A Legacy of Faithful Service
In 1968, a young Joni Sonnenberg walked into Reverend Whitehead’s modest office with her mother and sister, ready to serve. As a new believer eager to follow Jesus, Joni, along with her sister and mother, became the very first volunteers at Orange County Rescue Mission – folding thankyou etters, stuffing envelopes, and quietly helping build what would become a movement of compassion.
Joni’s husband, Bruce, got involved with the Rescue Mission years later, in 1982, when he was invited to serve on the Board. Motivated by Matthew 25:35, Bruce saw the Rescue Mission as a place where believers could live out Jesus Christ’s call to serve “the least of these” in real and practical ways.
Together, Bruce and Joni have spent decades encouraging others to join them in service at the Rescue Mission – not just with their hands, but with their hearts. “Volunteering,” Bruce says, “is Jesus putting His arms around someone who’s scared to walk through the doors. It’s Jesus saying, ‘You’re not alone.’” While financial support is vital, Bruce believes there’s something deeply personal about showing up. “Some people can give a hug, offer a warm meal, or simply be present – and that’s powerful. That’s Jesus in action.”
In recent years, Bruce and Joni have served the Village of Hope community by organizing and often leading the Saturday night chapel services. Students know the couple as loving and kind, yet also willing to challenge them to grow.
Bruce and Joni view the Rescue Mission as a parachurch organization – bringing churches and people together to accomplish what no single church could do alone. Their message is simple: every Christian should volunteer, and there’s always room to serve. Whether it’s serving a meal, babysitting during church services, or simply showing up with a smile and a prayer, every act of service matters.
Bruce and Joni’s legacy began with a quiet “yes.” Sixty years later, it’s still echoing.
“Volunteering is Jesus putting his arms around someone’s who’s scared to walk through the doors. It’s Jesus saying ‘you’re not alone.’”
Bruce and Joni with their son, Matt.
FINANCIALS
INCOME FORECAST
(O CT 2025 TO SEPT 2026)
5,135,000
3 ,200,000
8,335,000
The forecasts shown summarize the consolidated budgets of Orange County Rescue Mission and its affiliates Hope Harbor and Temporary Shelter, Inc.
USE OF DONATIONS
Over the past year, an average of 81 cents of your donated dollar was used to directly help homeless people, five cents was used for administration, and 14 cents was used for communications and fundraising. These functional expenses are reported each year by an independent auditor.
THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERING
In Fiscal Year 2025, a total of 245,856 volunteer hours were given to OCRM. These volunteer hours are valued at $10,220,886.* Volunteer work significantly offsets our staffing and administrative costs.
*Based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and IndependentSector.org.
FINANCIALS
EXPENSE FORECAST
(O CT 2025 TO SEPT 2026)
Direct Assistance for Homeless People $ 2 2,550,000
Food, Clothing, Shelter, Hygiene
Transitional Housing, Financial Coaching
Counseling, Coaching, Mental Health
Parent & Child Development, Student Education Support
Transportation, Vocational Training, Career Development
Program Materials & Resources
Communications and Fundraising
Donor Relations, Donor Communications
Digital & Mail Fundraising
Website Upkeep
Administration
Staffing, Insurance, Facility Maintenance Capital Improvements
Expense
$ 3 ,967,000
$ 1, 418,000
28 ,335,000
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
We prioritize financial integrity and maximize every dollar to the benefit of the people we serve. This is confirmed through an annual independent financial audit. And, we receive the highest ratings from Charity Navigator and Candid.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Tustin Temporary Emergency Shelter
Chili Van
Walk-ins & Referrals
Double R Ranch
Tustin Veterans Outpost
Village of Hope
Hope Harbor
RESTART>>>
THE JOURNEY
While every person’s path is different, our goal is to meet people where they are and help eliminate their barriers to independence, one by one. To learn more about our programs, scan here or visit RescueMission.org/programs.
Hurtt Family Health Clinic
Alumni Ongoing Education Program
The Success Center
Trinity Law Clinic
Strong Beginnings
Parent & Children Enrichment Center SERVICES
Hope Family Housing
Tustin Alumni Housing House of Hope
LEADERSHIP
EXECUTIVE TEAM
The Executive Team leads and serves alongside the many dedicated employees, who together work to end homelessness one life at a time.
Bryan Crain President
Larry Gwilt Chief Financial Officer
Jodie Saunderson Chief Human Resources and Compliance Officer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Anna Song Chief Development Officer
Steve Callahan
Mark Conzelman
Christopher Ferebee
Craig Furniss
William Guard
Bart Hanson
Joseph Mellema
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Shana Conzelman Chairperson of Women for Hope
Jackie Nowlin
Joe Oltmans
John Patterson
Travis Topp
Jackie Nowlin Chairperson of Legacy Society
Derrick Burton Chief Ministry Officer
Joey Gonzalez Chief Operating Of ficer
LEGACY SOCIETY
An impactful way to extend your generosity and partnership with Orange County Rescue Mission is through the Legacy Society. Donors who commit to our Legacy Society are donors who prayerfully name Orange County Rescue Mission as a beneficiary of their will, estate, or on an investment account as a charitable donation. These donors have pledged to minister the love of Jesus Christ to the least, the last, and the lost beyond their lifetime and across multiple generations.
People of all giving capacities and in any season of life can become Legacy Society donors. They include a broad spectrum of donors from longtime to newer donors, monthly to annual donors, and event participants to volunteers. Orange County Rescue Mission believes gifts of all sizes, given now and in the future, are equally significant because all gifts restore the lives of homeless men, women, children, and military veterans.
To learn more about our Legacy Society, contact our Legacy Planning Advisor, Mauri Ramirez at Mauri.Ramirez@RescueMission.org or call 714-800-3324. You can also visit our website at RescueMission.org/LegacyPlanning which includes information to assist you with gifts through wills.
HOW TO HELP
The stories of restoration shared in this annual report are made possible by your support and prayers. We pray that our work together, with a shared commitment to end homelessness one life at a time, will continue in 2026. You have many options to make an impact!
WAYS TO GIVE FINANCIALLY
• Check – Mail a check payable to Orange County Rescue Mission to: 1 Hope Drive, Tustin, CA 92782.
• Credit Card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Cryptocurrency –Go to our secure website at RescueMission.org/give-now
• Monthly recurring donation/subscription – Go to RescueMission.org/village
• Join our Legacy Society – For more information, visit RescueMission.org/ legacyplanning or contact Mauri Ramirez at 714-800-3324.
• Electronic Fund Transfer – Call 714-247-4336 to set up an automated EFT.
• Donate through your Donor-Advised Fund, Stocks, Mutual Funds, or IRA.
• Questions about donating? – Contact Anna Song at 714-247-4377 or Anna.Song@RescueMission.org
VOLUNTEER
There are many opportunities for individuals, groups, churches, and corporations to volunteer. For more information, go to RescueMission.org/volunteer
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to our email list to receive encouraging stories and stay current with events, volunteering, and giving opportunities. Go to RescueMission.org to the bottom of the page.
FOLLOW
Follow us on our social media to for stories, videos, and more.
GIVE ITEMS
Our warehouse, located at 1 Hope Drive in Tustin, is open daily from 8am 5pm to receive new and gently used items. We especially need food, diapers, clothing, and hygiene items. RescueMission.org/items
GIVE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
• Coordinate a donation drive, starting with the helpful information found at RescueMission.org/donation-drive.
• Join our annual Turkey Trot OC 5K on Thanksgiving Day. For more information, go to TurkeyTrotOC.org
