Opportunities From: Orange County United Way

A critical position! Volunteers serve as the first point of contact for families and individuals looking for assistance, by staffing the phones and our front desk. Good communication skills, a strong desire to help others, and excellent judgment are required.

Bilingual Office Volunteers are especially needed to help translate for clients (most needed languages: Spanish and Farsi).

This position requires 10 hours of training and a minimum six month commitment. Volunteers work two to three hour shifts once a week.

Through our food pantry, Families Forward feeds over 100 families every week! WE MAKE HOSTING A FOOD DRIVE EASY! We will provide you with AND deliver/ pick up barrels for food collection, provide signage and lists of most needed food items for you to hand out or e-mail to those willing to give. All you need to do is select a time period (we suggest about a week) and then contact us to schedule your food drive. EASY!

Did you know that all 28 of Families Forward's transitional homes are fully furnished by donations from our local community?  We gladly accept the following new items: Linens, kitchen towels, cooking tools and utensils, dining utensils, bath towels, cleaning equipment, cleaning products, and toys. We also accept toiletries, telephones, gently used baby equipment (car-seats, high chairs, cribs, changing tables), and small appliances (toasters, small table-top microwaves). All donations must be clean and in good working condition.

We also accept furniture items that are clean and gently used with no rips or holes. These furniture items are for immediate use in our homes and must be in good condition. Because of limited storage space, we cannot accept everything. Acceptable furniture donations may include:

Mattresses and bed frames (twin, full or queen size only) Bunk beds, dressers Night stands Armoires Bookshelves TV stands TVs less than 5 years old Sofas and love-seats Chairs Desks Dining tables and chairs Coffee and end tables (no glass tops) Area rugs in good condition Paintings and pictures Lamps and shades

Appliances must be no more than 5 years old and in working order. They may include washers, dryers (gas only), and ovens. We do not accept King size mattresses or bed frames, sleeper sofas, or dishwashers.

Local businesses graciously donate fresh bread, produce, and other food items to provide Families Forward clients with nutritious meals. Families Forward is looking for cheerful volunteers pick up this food from the businesses and bring it to our food pantry on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Some pick up schedules are on a regular basis while others are on-demand basis depending on the type of donation. We rely greatly on our volunteers and this food pick-up makes a direct impact on the families that we serve!