Nutrition Education And Support
When it comes to maintaining a proper diet, having reliable access to food is only part of the equation. Just as important are the knowledge and skills needed to manage nutrition goals, make better food choices and prepare nourishing meals. Thats why our commitment to our patients goes far beyond the food pantry. Along with our food distribution programs, we offer a variety of additional support services.
This includes free educational resources, informative cooking classes and private consultations with our resident nutritionist, Roxanna Muñoz. Together, well take the guesswork out of healthy eating. Discover new tips for turning simple, affordable ingredients into delicious and filling meals. Learn about how your childs nutritional requirements change as they grow up. Develop strategies for effectively managing special dietary needs. Regardless of your education or skill level, we can help you acquire the tools needed to take charge of your nutrition, health and wellness.
*all Food Pantry services are only available to active Families Together patients.
We are always taking donations for our food pantry. If you would like to donate or volunteer at our pantry, please contact Roxanna Munoz or Soledad Rivera .
Donate Clothes In Orange County
Job seekers appreciate the generosity of those who visit and gift apparel and in-kind items to support their job search.
What can you donate to Working Wardrobes?
Clothing, accessories, personal care items, and business and leadership books from individuals and partners enable us to deliver quality programs to support the employment journey.
When and where can you drop off donations at Working Wardrobes?
For clothing donors, the Working Wardrobes Donation Center is located at 17392 Daimler Street, Irvine, CA 92614. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
Free Food Pantries Groceries And Food Banks Orange County California
Free emergency food pantries in the Orange County California region help thousands of families every month. People of all backgrounds and income levels have turned to a local soup kitchen, free food bank or pantry near them when they are faced with difficult times. The exact type of resources will vary by center, as well as the hours. It is recommended to call a center first, before stopping by. There is also a toll free referral number at the bottom of the page for more information, including in Spanish.
Many of the food pantries will offer individuals a pre-set package of free or low cost non-perishable groceries or canned goods, free hygiene supplies, toiletries or other goods depending upon availability. Some of the perishable items that may be available, include, but are not limited to fruits, breads, vegetables, dairy and meats. All items are based on availability of donations and the resources from the specific Orange County food pantry.
When available, special needs can be met. For example, baby food, diapers and baby supplies may also be provided to established food pantry clients in Orange County California. Senior citizens in the southern part of California are also a focus, and they can enroll into a Meals on Wheels service or receive dietary supplements from a food bank.
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Best Practices For Donating Canned Foods
We all want to be good citizens and do some good with the items were donating. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Donate the items that the food bank accepts. Read their guidelines first.
- Check expiration dates. If an item is nearing or past expiration, the food bank likely wont accept it.
- Examine packaging for rust, dents, faded or damaged labels, or leaks.
- Check foodbank hours to ensure that you dont make a wasted trip. Remember, Easy Donation PickUp will come to you, so you dont have to worry about that if you donate your canned food to us!
- Avoid donating perishable items. It might seem common sense, but its easy to forget that an item requiring refrigeration will not hold up on a foodbank shelf. This includes anything that needs to be refrigerated.
Dont worry, though. Just because you cant donate fresh food doesnt mean that hungry families dont have access to these items through a food bank. Food banks often coordinate with suppliers such as farmers, restaurants, and retailers to source these items.
Salvation Army Various Locations

This faith-based organization helps so many people with so many different types of programs such as homeless housing, rehabilitation centers and homes for victims of anti-trafficking to name a few.
They have also been running a food bank throughout the pandemic. You can find where to donate on their website. The Orange location has a drive thru drop off service at the back of the store.
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Where To Take Donations In Orange County
When donating furniture, be sure to call ahead to see if the organization has any size restrictions. For clothing donations, most places will accept all types of clothing, but some may have special needs, such as childrens clothing or business attire. Most donation centers will also take household items such as dishes, linens, and small appliances.
Where To Donate Canned Foods
If youve got extra food crowding your pantry, you might be looking for a way to offload it to a worthy cause.
Whether youre moving house, doing some spring cleaning, or looking for a way to help end food insecurity in your community, youve likely turned to Google to find the best canned food donation centers near me or something like that.
In your search, you might have discovered that many food banks and donation centers have phased out the idea of donating canned food in favor of accepting cash. To avoid wasting more of your valuable time, check out this list of the top places to donate canned food in your area.
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Are Canned Food Donations Tax Deductible
The short answer is yes. However, there are some rules you must follow to write off the value of your canned food donation on your tax return. The first thing youll want to confirm is that the place youre donating to is a tax-exempt organization. The IRS has a list of organizations on its website, which you can access using the Exempt Organization Search Tool.
You should be aware that not all tax-exempt non-profits will appear on the list. For example, any non-profit that is already tax-exempt will have an application on file. This includes churches, mosques, synagogues, and government agencies.
Habitat Restore Santa Ana And Anaheim
Habitat ReStores are independently owned reuse stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. ReStores accept donations and sell a constantly changing inventory of diverse, high-quality merchandise to the public at a fraction of the retail price, while diverting reusable household items and building materials from area landfills.
Sales of donated items help Habitat for Humanity partner with local families to build, rehabilitate and repair safe and affordable homes in your community and around the world a good deal for you, your community and the environment.
What can you donate to ReStore?
Habitat ReStore accepts new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials, household goods and more from individuals and companies. Each ReStore is unique, and many locations also accept items outside these categories.
When and where can you drop off donations at ReStore?
There are two locations where you can drop off furniture, one in Santa Ana and one in Anaheim. We love this nonprofit because they use their funds to help low income families become homeowners through Habitat for Humanity homes.
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How To Calculate The Value Of Your Tax
Now comes the tricky part. How much can you deduct from your taxes? There are a couple of rules to keep in mind:
Can You Donate Expiring Canned Foods
In addition to adhering to best practices such as abstaining from donating perishable items, leftovers, or homemade items, you should also avoid donating anything thats expired. Food banks will most likely check an expiration date before giving it to a family in need, but its better to be safe than sorry. As a general rule, if you wouldnt eat it, dont donate it.
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How Will Your Donations Help
The Nutrition Services program will provide healthy meals to the most vulnerable people in the LGBTQ+ community in Orange County. For those living with HIV, diabetes or cancer, medically tailored meals provide the right nutrition to meet their specific needs.
In practice, this means a $25 donation ensures a meal can be delivered to someone with HIV or serious health issues. And what about a $500 donation? Well, that money can ensure five families get groceries for an entire month.
Join Us In Fighting Food Insecurity In Orange County

Radiant Health Centers, the leading LGBTQ+ health clinic in Orange County, is raising money for community members living with food insecurity. As one element of our social services, the Nutrition Services program aims to deliver nutritional assistance to many vulnerable individuals in the community. As the holiday season approaches, we are accepting donations to provide much-needed support to those who need it the most.
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Free Community Food Pantry
Food insecurity is one of the most pressing public health issues affecting our community today. Hunger takes a tremendous toll, exacerbating both physical and mental health conditions and contributing to adverse outcomes. At Families Together of Orange County, were doing our part to ensure that no one goes hungry on our watch.
Working with local partners and community donors, we keep our food pantry well-provisioned with fresh, high-quality products throughout the year. Our pantry is open to Families Together patients from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday. We strive to offer an array of ingredients, making it easy to put together meals that will satisfy the whole family. Simply call to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help you fill your nutritional gaps.
Savers Yorba Linda And Fountain Valley
Savers not only makes it super easy to drop off items , but they also give you a 20% discount to shop in the store with your donation. Donation hours run similar to store hours.
What can you donate to Savers?
Backpacks and purses, bed & bath, books & media, clothing & shoes, electronics, small furniture, small appliances, housewares, games & toys, exercise equipment and sporting goods.
- Jewelry and cosmetics
Whether you choose to do a donation pick up in Orange County or drop it off, we encourage you to check out these different thrift stores. If we missed one, share with us your favorite charity where to donate household items.
If you have any questions about what items are accepted or where to donate, feel free to contact any of the organizations above or look up donation guidelines online.
And remember, even if you cant find a place that takes everything you want to donate, nearly all thrift stores accept clothing donations so theres always somewhere you can take your unwanted items! Happy donating!
Originally published on March 31, 2021. Last Updated on March 6, 2022 by Pattie Cordova
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Serving Those Who Served
In the case of veterans, making the transition from military to civilian life is not without challenges. We help veterans and their family members navigate this new chapter, connect to needed services and find long-term employment in the community.The Tierney Center for Veteran Services promotes success by helping veterans and their families access resources and services.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
According to this food banks website, 20% of Los Angelenos face food insecurity, and this organization is on a mission to reduce that number to 0. The food bank has temporarily paused on canned food donations from individuals, but theyve provided a list of local Los Angeles-area partners that are currently accepting donations.
To find the best food bank to donate food near you, head on over to this directory. Enter your location and select a radius of up to 15 miles.
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Donation Pick Up In Orange County: Where To Donate Clothes And Furniture
If you have recently upgraded your homes furnishings or clothing and have extra items lying around, dont worry there are plenty of places to call for a donation pick up in Orange County, or places you can go and donate clothes and furniture.
This guide will list some of the best options for donation near you, so you can rest assured that your unwanted items will go to good use!
Springtime is a great season to donate your items and we have chosen places that specialize in certain items such as clothes, furniture and cars. Some will even come by and pick up your donations at home.
We have a personal connection to all of these organizations since our family and friends have donated to all of these causes. We also know they all do so much for the community of Orange County.
For ease of use, this list of places to donate in Orange County is organized by type of donation. Take a look and let us know if we missed one of your favorite non-profits that takes donations! Email or message us
Why Is Access To Good Nutrition So Important
Good nutrition is important for everyone, but it is particularly crucial for someone living with HIV and other serious illnesses. In fact, nutrition can build a foundation for good health in all areas of life physical and mental. We recently reported on the physical and mental healthcare barriers facing transgender individuals, often leading to a reduced quality of life. Access to increased funding through donations ensures more groups can get the comprehensive care they deserve.
For people living with HIV, food insecurity frequently contributes to malnutrition and reduced medication adherence. With less viral suppression, the virus is more likely to spread and impact the community as a whole. By focusing on good nutrition for the most vulnerable individuals, health outcomes are raised and hospitalization rates will fall.
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Monthly Ftoc Farmers Market
Our Next Farmers Market will be on December 5th!
Incorporating fresh, unprocessed produce is one of the most important keys to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Unfortunately, cost and availability issues can make it difficult to get enough fruits and veggies on a regular basis. If youre not getting the whole foods your family needs, FTOC is here to help.
On the first Monday of every month, we host a full farmers market in the parking lot of our Tustin Wellness Center. The market is open to patients from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It features an abundance of fresh produce and related food items, all at absolutely no cost to you. Just stop by and pick up the wholesome ingredients you need to enjoy tasty, nutritious meals at home. Registration is encouraged, but please remember that food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Looking Back To 2020 Donations

Last year saw 1,027 households, at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, receive meals. A collaboration with Project Angel Food has also led to 3,250 medically tailored frozen meals going to individuals living with HIV, diabetes or cancer.
This year provides an opportunity to support Orange Countys LGBTQ+ community further with the added bonus of a donation match. If you want to help tackle food insecurity and nutritional deficits across Orange County, please consider donating to Radiant Health Centers Nutrition Services program.
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The First $50000 Will Be Matched Dollar
If you needed any incentive to give support, the program was given a major boost by an anonymous donor. The generous commitment ensures the first $50,000 donated will be matched dollar-for-dollar. With food insecurity reducing health outcomes for many in the LGBTQ+ community, every dollar will count for individuals living below the federal poverty level.
You Can Help Feed The Community
Feeding the community is one of the most important things South County Outreach does. You can help us make sure that no one in Orange County goes hungry by donating food, funds, or hosting a food drive to support our food program. Whichever way you choose to help, we make it simple and easy for you to make a difference in the lives of residents each day.
Donate Food Items
Donate food items to our food program that provides residents with the nourishing ingredients and staples needed to make full meals, lunches, and snacks. Non-perishable items can be dropped off at the food market located at 7 Whatney, Suite B, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.
The most requested food items for our Food Program are:
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Bagged Beans and Rice
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