The Mental Health Association of Orange County
In July, we added a new community feeding partner to our weekly distribution, Mental Health Association of Orange County! MHA is a non-profit that operates in Orange County and aims to provide resources to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders. Their overall goal is to improve the quality of life of Orange County residents impacted by mental illness.
Their Homeless Multi-Service Center in Santa Ana serves 65 individuals Monday through Friday including Holidays! They serve meals, provide showers, laundry, access to county mental health clinics as well as telephone and address contact for those who are homeless and are struggling with persistent mental illness. Incredible student nurses from various nursing colleges rotate through the Multi-Service Center providing health education, hypertension and blood sugar testing and first aid. In addition to these great services, the Center offers help getting back to work, housing assistance, substance abuse counseling and SSI benefits. We are so proud to be able to partner with this great organization by providing delicious, nutritious meals weekly to serve each of their clients’ daily need for great food.
JT's Success Story
"JT is a 59 year old woman with a dual diagnosis, which includes severe depression. JT first came to MHA’s Homeless Drop-In Center in 2007, where her counselor found her housing at the American Family Housing’s Haven Shelter. After 2 years, due to loss of income, she ended back on the streets, but continued to get the support she needed from MHA. JT began to take business and art classes at a local community college and enrolled in Goodwill’s Back to Work program with the help and encouragement of MHA staff. She was selected by students at Chapman College’s film program to be the subject of a documentary focused on educating others about homelessness. Despite still being homeless, she felt valued and began feeling hopeful about the future.
The Housing Specialist at the MHA Multi-Service Center helped JT secure housing assistance from the Orange County Housing Authority and the Anaheim Housing Authority, which allowed her to finally have an affordable apartment. Things in her life had been so difficult for so long that she couldn’t imagine getting such an opportunity. The Counselor helped her manage her anxiety and depression throughout the process and helped her to remain positive. The MHA staff gathered a multitude of items to get JT ready for her new home – towels, sheets, food and small appliances. JT moved into her new apartment and is happy that her daughter and grandchildren are able to visit her in a home. She feels grateful to MHA and plans to begin volunteering at the Multi-Service Center facilitating an art group for the members."
We are so thrilled for the opportunity to get to partner with this inspiring organization. Every Tuesday, MHA picks up 13 cases of quarts filled with delicious, wholesome meals! Each case holds 24 quarts, that's 312 meals to bring 312 opportunities of Hope! Thank you MHA for the work that you do.