If there ever was any organization that holds so true to its’ mission statement, it’s Grandma’s House of Hope. It truly does provide compassionate and uplifting care for women in crisis and it truly does feed the bodies and souls of many hungry children in Orange County. Je’net the Executive Director and Founder of GHH is such an amazingly talented and incredibly loving individual. Her open honesty and the real connection she has with each client and all the staff allows Grandma’s House to be the inspirational organization that it is.
I am an Americorps VISTA volunteering here for the 2013-2014 year and I have been blown away by the unconditional love that everyone on staff has been able to lavish upon the people we serve. They are driven by their cause incredibly capable in the life changing work that they do. I feel so blessed to be able to serve with them this year.
I am an Americorps Vista Member volunteering with Grandma's House of Hope, and couldn't be more proud of the work I get to be involved in. I feel like the staff here is not only very invested in the clients they serve, but also in their volunteers. I came into the organization ready to do whatever work they felt was most urgently needed. But when I got to the office, the focus of the team was to ask me what I was looking to get out of my service experience. I think this is a really smart way to go about dealing with volunteers: ask them what they're looking to gain from the experience, what they feel they are best suited for and how you can help them achieve their goals. I felt like the GHH team has been invested in me and my goals from the start. It also makes me want to come back and continue volunteering regularly, because I know I am not only a part of the incredible good this organization is doing in our community, but a valued member of the team with my own set of skills and talents I can use to help people.
The staff here is incredible. Its a loving, hardworking and up-lifting environment. Everyone is encouraged to laugh regularly in the office. The Executive Director, Je'net, genuinely loves the people she serves, and it shows. This is an awesome organization to get involved with and I feel proud to be a part of the work they do!
PS. They have a website and Facebook page up if your interested in volunteering or donating! grandmashouseofhope.org
We are not just a homeless shelter, we provide homes where women come to heal and put their lives back together. Many of our residents live with us for up to two years while they overcome serious illnesses like breast cancer, we support human trafficking survivors, seniors with disabilities, and other medical challenges . Our Healing House is a component of our Campus-Model Housing Program and is the only housing program in Orange County offering housing service for women struggling with breast cancer and other serious illnesses. Homeless women with cancer and other life-threatening conditions are often refused life-saving treatments when they do not have safe and heathy place to recover and heal. This can be a death sentence.
I prayed to find a local charity to donate my time so that I could make a real difference in our community. My prayer was answered with an invitation from my (future) sister-in-law, Lori Torres. As a longtime volunteer, and current President of the Board of Directors at Grandma's House of Hope, she invited me to a luncheon fundraiser. As I ate my lunch sitting with two of our homes residents, I was so deeply touched by the mission and purpose of GHH. I met a 20 year old young gal in our shelter who had just received a kidney transplant (a week prior) at the luncheon that day, and hearing her story changed my life as I decided to help GHH in any way I could. That led me to join our Board of Directors as Secretary, and help start the Women's Auxiliary group supporting the GHH mission.
A few more things that I believe make us special. In 2011, GHH was honored to meet the high-standards of the Orange County United Way in a 3 year partnership. In addition to our four shelter homes, we also serve food to hungry kids in OC through our Nana's Kidz program. And finally, and most exciting, we are now opening a new community center in October with our unique HopeWorks! program in Anaheim. This community center will serve 45 families and their children with several programs including; parent & me classes, after-school club, career development, and health & wellness.
Please join us at Grandma's House of Hope by volunteering or donating to our mission! Thank you and may God continue to bless us!