Families Forward

10/14/2026

We're celebrating the new OCTA (OCTA) bus stop next to Families Forward!

There's one less barrier now for families in need of resources and support. Families can now take OCTA Bus Route 86 and arrive in front of the Community Market at Families Forward and our Program Center front desk. For a family that's working hard to overcome our region's uniquely high cost of living—but lacks access to a car, regular transportation, or gas money to get to Families Forward—this will make all the difference. We are proud to see families utilizing this bus stop every day, along with workers from businesses all across the area.

Thank you to Orange County Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento (Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento) for his advocacy in creating this bus stop.

Learn more about how we can work together to prevent and end family homelessness in Orange County by visiting us families-forward.org.

10/14/2026

Our community partners make an impact every day on the lives of children and their families in Orange County. Thank you to the team at Smart Circle for their partnership - including recently supporting 150 children with backpacks and new school supplies!

While our Back to School program has concluded for the year, you can support families with the joy of a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal and a present during the holiday season through our Holiday Giving programs. Learn more: https://www.families-forward.org/holiday-giving/

10/13/2026

Our favorite season has begun! Make this season brighter by supporting Orange County families with the ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving meal and the joyous experience of being a child and waking up to a special gift: families-forward.org/holiday-giving

There are many ways to get involved. For Families Forward's Thanksgiving Food Drive, you can:
- Donate needed Thanksgiving ingredients
- Host a Thanksgiving Food Drive
- Shop the wishlist and have ingredients shipped directly to Families Forward
- Donate to support the Thanksgiving Program directly

For Families Forward's Holiday Program, you can:
- Match with a family to fulfill their Holiday Wish (sign ups have opened!)
- Host a Holiday Gift Drive
- Shop the wishlist and have common wishlist items shipped directly to Families Forward
- Donate to support the Holiday Program directly

Learn more and get involved: families-forward.org/holiday-giving

10/02/2026

We are deeply grateful every friend of Families Forward who made Light Up the Night 2026 an unforgettable evening. Through the generous support of every sponsor, attendee, and partner, we raised $510,000 to support more families in Orange County with housing and food access.

A special congratulations to our honorees: Hoag, our Partner in Hope, and Bob Davis and Susan Hori, our 2026 Margie Wakeham Legacy Award recipient, for their extraordinary leadership and generosity.

View photos from the evening and relive the magic:

09/30/2026