[partial reprint from 2019] During the Michael Jackson trial in 2005, the line to get into the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles was nearly a block long. As we stood there, I noticed a man walking up and down the line asking for money. He was holding a handwritten cardboard sign. It said, [...]

Everyone Has A Story The other day I was waiting for a friend outside at my local Starbucks. As I was standing there, I noticed a woman sitting on a low brick wall. She looked to be in her seventies. She was bundled up in a couple of coats, her head was down. She [...]

Amazing Emilia Knudsen Inspiration can come from any age or demographic. When traveling, we have been blessed to come across some amazing people. One such person is Emilia Knudsen, a 14-year-old from Kapa’a, Kaua’i who has been doing community service for most of her life. Early in the pandemic, at the age of 12, [...]

Giving Back When I volunteer to serve at events, I always enjoy getting to know the story of those we are serving. I also make a point to get to know the other volunteers. Last month, when working with Qoheleth Ministries, I met a woman who, for this article, I will call Maria. Maria [...]

Cheers to Two Local Restaurants Last month, Friends of Volunteer Network OC spent the morning helping homeless men and women in Laguna Beach. We handed out Bombas socks, lunch bags, blankets and face masks, and we spent time talking to many of the individuals living on the streets of Laguna. After it was over, Cheryl [...]

A Note From Our Intern Matthew Plaza Hello supporters and volunteers of Volunteer Network OC, Over the past ten weeks, I have had the honor of being the Community Outreach intern for Volunteer Network OC (VNOC). I am so happy to have found a group of people that are dedicated to helping others. There is [...]

It's encouraging to see how, even in the midst of challenging times, our communities are finding ways to support one another. Thank you so much. I thought this would be a good time to write a happy blog. Last November, we had our first annual gala at Wilcox Manor in Tustin. Here is a previous [...]

Ask Not What You Can Do For Yourself, But What You Can Do for Others Over the past couple of weeks as the COVID-19 crisis has hit our communities, we witnessed a couple of acts of true kindness.  We would like to share them with you as a reminder that we are a compassionate, [...]

If you read the Orange County Register, you know about the plight of the homeless in Orange County, the tents along the Santa Ana River trail and the Santa Ana Civic Center, and the federal lawsuits to force our county and cities to do something. Seven years ago, Orange County adopted a 10-year plan [...]

Wanda Witter On August 22 and 23, 2016, the Washington Post reported about 80-year old Wanda Witter.  Ms. Witter was formerly a machinist in New York who manufactured turbine and engine parts.  After she lost her job at Ingersoll Rand, she moved in with her daughter in Colorado, and began to plan [...]