Saddleback Church, Lake Forest

I am reaching out on behalf of a single mother with six children who is currently in need of support. The family was recently displaced from a room they had been renting and, thankfully, has now secured their own apartment. However, they are in need of essential household items to help make their new space livable and comfortable. Some of the immediate needs include: Microwave, Dining table, Pots and pans, Plates and utensils, Towels and blankets. Any assistance would be deeply appreciated and would make a meaningful difference for this resilient family as they work to rebuild their lives. Thank you for your time and consideration.

We are seeking urgent community support for a mother and her 7-year-old daughter who are currently in need of safe and stable housing. The mother is a victim of domestic violence and is without any local family support. She is currently awaiting a court hearing scheduled for May 9th, which will determine whether she is permitted to relocate to Georgia to be with extended family.

At this time, the mother has exhausted her financial resources and is unable to secure housing on her own. We are asking for assistance to help cover the cost of a 14-day hotel stay, totaling approximately $141 per night, to ensure she and her daughter have a safe place to stay during this transitional period.

Total estimated need: $1,974 (14 nights at $141/night)

Any support—whether financial contributions, hotel vouchers, or referrals to community resources—is deeply appreciated. Your generosity can provide stability and hope to a family in urgent need.

Caregiver needs a black, six or eight wooden/sturdy dresser for her half sibling. The youth’s current dresser is broken. The caregiver is married and has two small children, and was willing to open her home for her younger half sibling due to family circumstances related to a history of domestic violence and substance abuse. The caregiver has sacrificed to care for her younger half sibling and does all she can to ensure her younger sibling is cared for and protected. The caregiver and youth are meeting the case plan goals/court orders. Furthermore, caregiver is committed to legal guardianship through KinGap. The main reason I am requesting this need to be fulfilled is because I want to support the family and also assist with providing a safe environment for the youth. DCFS is requesting a black six to eight drawer wooden dresser, otherwise the youth will continue to have a broken dresser that could possible fall apart as the youth continues to use. This need is being requested through Care Portal because unfortunately, DCFS’ timeframe in providing this item would take too long, as the youth needs a functioning and safe dresser. The estimated cost of the dresser being requested is $200.00.

The mother is a single parent with 3 children ages 11, 3 and 1-year-old. The mother still has custody of all children however the 11-year-old and 3 year-old are temporarily residing with relatives as mother and the baby currently resides in a treatment program. Due to the dynamics of the program, the mother is unable to work and has a limited income. As a result, the family is experiencing financial hardship. The mother continues to thrive at working toward addressing the issues that brought the family before the attention of the Department. The 3 year old child is primarily being supervised by her Maternal Great-grandmother. The 3 year old needs additional safety supports due to her age and development. The mother successfully completed the in-patient full/drug alcohol and has now transitioned to Aftercare recovery. The 3 year old is a very hyperactive and is currently in the process of being assessed for the regional center to rule out any delays. As a result, she is in need of additional supportive and security measures while she is in the care of her Maternal Great-Grandmother to prevent the child from absconding and to keep the child in close proximity while out. Fulfilling this request would promote additional safety precautions for the child who is of a young age as she travels within the community to explore resources to support her family’s transition. The total price breakdowns for the security gate range from $9.99-$16.99 excluding sales tax.

This is a resilient family of five who have faced significant housing instability throughout this school year. They have been forced to move four times, often living in doubled-up situations and renting single rooms from strangers. Despite these challenges, through determination and hard work, they have finally secured a home of their own. As they begin this new chapter, the family is in urgent need of several household items to help them settle in safely and comfortably. Their most immediate need is a baby gate to keep their twin toddlers safe. Additional items that would greatly help include a blender, a dining set, and plastic reusable drinking glasses. Any support or donations toward these essential items would make a meaningful difference for this family as they build stability and a sense of home. Thank you for your generosity and compassion.

We are reaching out on behalf of a dedicated teen mom who is doing everything she can to finish high school and build a better future for her and her baby. She is currently a senior, and despite the challenges she faces, she remains determined to graduate.

Right now, she is in urgent need of a travel car seat that can safely accommodate her growing baby, who weighs around 20 pounds. The car seat she currently has is too small, and the school-provided bus will not transport them without a properly sized seat. This has made it extremely difficult for her to attend school consistently.

In addition to the car seat, she could also use support with baby clothing. Her daughter is in need of size 18-24 month clothes. We are hoping to gather at least six outfits—shirts and pants or some cute matching sets—to help ease the burden on this young mom.

Any support would make a big difference in her journey. Thank you for considering her needs and helping us empower young parents to keep going despite the obstacles. In amazon : Graco Extend2Fit Kenzie, 2-in-1 Convertible Car Seat for Infants to Toddlers with Advanced Safety Features

Family of 5 has fallen behind on electricity bill. These parents have 3 young children and one of them has asthma and needs electricity to run a machine that helps his breathing. Edison has turned off the electricity, so the family is living without currently. They have fallen so behind the bill feels impossible for them to catch up. Any amount of the total bill would help them get it turned back on so the family can have a safe environment to live in and the child with asthma can use his breathing machine again.

If you are able to cover any amount of the bill, please let us know. Anything helps.

Mother is a domestic violence survivor and cares for her two young children full-time, which currently prevents her from working. As her case has just recently opened, she is in need of immediate support with basic essentials, including: • Diapers (Size 5) • Food • Clothing for the children Meeting these urgent needs would greatly alleviate her stress and allow her to focus on engaging in her court-ordered services. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Father is in need of support to assist him in securing employment and paying the cost of renewing his forklift certificate. The children ages 8 and 6 are home with mother and father is working to reunify with his children. Parents plan on working things out and reunifying their family. However, during this time the father has been struggling with finding stable employment. The father had his forklift certification in the past but it has since expired. The father has been seeking employment in the same field and would like to renew his forklift certification so that he can find employment and help in supporting his children and the family.

On April 3rd a family lost their home due to a fire which is currently under investigation. They lost everything. They were only able to grab a couple of clothes. They are currently in need of a couch. Anything will help this family get back on track.

A family is in need of assistance with the purchase of a refrigerator. The mother is the only adult in the home, and she has worked hard to have her children return back to the home. This mother has done well in adjusting to financial responsibility of caring full-time for her 3 children now that they have returned but she has found out that her refrigerator is no longer working properly. The cost of a new refrigerator is not something that this parent is prepared to take on, on her own. The family consists of the mother, her fifteen-year-old son, and her three-year-old twins. During the time working with the family, I have seen mother’s devotion and genuine love for her children and the strong nurturing bond. She has been cooperative and receptive to the Department. Having a refrigerator would allow the family to store healthy foods and ingredients for her to be able to feed her family in the long run. It is a necessity that would help ensure that the mother is able to provide her children with a basic need and improve their quality of life.

Currently assisting a single mother with a 3-month-old baby boy who is struggling to make ends meet. She has a part-time job, but her income is not enough to cover basic necessities for her growing baby, including size 3 diapers, wipes, formula, and clothing. Additionally, her EBT benefits were reduced due to her employment, making it even more difficult to afford groceries. She's been relying on food banks, but the available canned goods are not always the healthiest option. A grocery gift card would be extremely helpful during this challenging time.