Come to our
"Block Party of Thanks"
Sat., June 14, 11 am to 4 pm.
Join us as we say thanks to the City for taking decisive action on Parkin Gardens.
We thank God for the combined community action to improve substandard housing!
FLASH - FLASH UPDATE: May 5 - Entire complex now under court ordered receivership. Thank God! Read all about it at this OC Register Article. FLASH - FLASH UPDATE: May 5
Our church members, participants and leaders, coordinated by Chuck Carey, Dave Johnson, Maria Cruz and many others through our Local Organizing Committee (LOC - see below), were instrumental in initiating the coalition that resulted in this court action. Here's the report by Shawn Wehan, our OCCCO "coach."
"After much work by our LOC/WFIC* members, Community Preservation Officers, City Attorneys, City Commissioners, City Council Members, private attorneys and the many committed tenants that live at Parkin Garden Apartments, We are happy to report that a “Receiver” (third party) was granted by the Superior Court today to make repairs to the Parkin property.
It was a big win for the families of Maria Cruz and Magdalena Trujillo Oropeza who, due to a sewage spill, have been living with their children in two tiny motel rooms for the last two months.
(By the way, Magdalena's son, Fabricio, is a graduate of our Orangethorpe Learning Center! He's pictured on that page as well, while Maria Cruz is an OUMC member who has three kids currently enrolled in the Learning Center. Maria and her twin daughters Kimberly and Jennifer were also pictured on a recent OLC page.)
Starting today, both families will be moved, by the Receiver, to quality housing conditions!
(Check out the April Video report by channel 7 Eye Witness News. And also the initial article in the Orange County Register!)
Congratulations to everyone!! This has been a two year fight upon which justice for the tenants has prevailed!
Now on to Palm Gardens!" (Another substandard apartment building in our area with many ignored problems.)
- Written by Shawn Wehan, (our OCCCO Organizer assigned to our LOC/WFIC)
(* West Fullerton Improvement Committee - WFIC, recently joined forces with our Local Organizing Committee LOC.)
Local Organizing Committee (LOC):
Our LOC has been addressing the needs of our West Fullerton Community from sub-standard housing to obtaining a Community Center at a local park. Our group has been coordinated by Chuck Carey, Dave Johnson and many others.
With the help of Orange County Congregations Community Organization (OCCCO), we have learned a lot about community organizing and see concrete results to our efforts.
We're a very active group with a 'can do' attitude that joins others in our community in many ways.
Recently, we've merged with the West Fullerton Improvement Committee - WFIC - to become even more involved in the community.
Substandard housing has been a very important part of our agenda, but it also includes obtaining a community center for a part of town poorly served by civic improvements and the medical concerns of the neighborhood children.
Our monthly meetings are open to any and all who want to "make a difference through Christ" for those who live in the West Fullerton neighborhoods.
* * * * * * * * * *
2nd Harvest Team:
This Monthly Food distribution is on the 1st Sat. of every month. 2nd Harvest Mobile Pantry arrives around 9 am, and then we get to work. It delivers 5,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables and dry goods to our parking lot.
This program provides an opportunity for the Food Bank to partner with its member agencies and distribute more fresh produce to the hungry without the worry of transportation and storage by the agency.
As many of the homeless and working poor line up, the truck needs to be unloaded and the food items placed on tables.
Then, in prayer and love, we help distribute everything we have to all who have come. Finally we clean up, thanking God for the privilege to be in service to Christ.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hot Meals - Team OUMC:
On the 4th Monday of each Month Team OUMC serves the homeless and working poor at the Orangethorpe Christian Church, just down the street from us.
Hot Meals Ministry is a group of people from other churches and organizations in our area, all working to feed the hungry people in our area for years.
By July 2007, over 112,000 meals had been served since the effort began in 1993.
Come and help us put a smile on a face, food in the belly and a warmth in the heart that all comes from our love in Jesus Christ.
* * * * * * * * * *
Teams Now Forming
Neighborhood Basketball coaching: to keep youth off the streets.
Mission Trips to Mexico: Orphanages, Medical clinics, Spiritual support to our neighbors
