Gave Over 50 Blessing Bags to Church Members on Sunday!

Greetings,

It was a very busy day on Sunday, June 8th, as we handed out 50 blessing bags to church members as they exited the 9 and 11 am services.  Church members were very interested in the Blessing Bags OC ministry, and strongly agreed with our mission – always be ready to lend a helping hand to someone in need, in the name of Jesus.

Blessing Bags OC provides an alternative to handing out cash for people who want to help a homeless person they run across. Our ministry provides helpful bags with all the essential items – water, snacks, personal care, and other items, plus a helpful word of encouragement and love about how God loves each and every one of us.

Proverbs 14:21 “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
But blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”

Join us, and keep a Blessing Bag in your car trunk. You will be blessed when you give a blessing bag to someone in need. And please send us an email about your encounter – we would love to hear from you. Email news of your encounter to  pmdooley1@gmail.com.

Thank you and may God richly bless you. 

 

Blessing Bags OC is at Crossline Church this Sunday June 8!

Greetings everyone,

Just a heads up that we plan on passing out Blessing Bags this coming Sunday at Crossline Community Church. We will either be at the Connection Booth or, if possible, we will have a table set up at the main entrance to the church.  So look for us there and plan to pick up a Blessing Bag for your car trunk!

Blessing Bags OC

As you know, Blessing Bags OC provides an alternative to handing out cash for people who want to help a homeless person they run across. Our ministry provides helpful bags with all the essential items – water, snacks, personal care, and other items, plus a helpful word of encouragement and love about how God loves every one of us.

Proverbs 14:21 “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”

Join us, and keep a Blessing Bag in your car trunk. You will be blessed when you give a blessing to someone in need. And don’t forget to email us and tell us about your experience in helping someone! 

Paul and Marie Dooley

Paul M. Dooley
Blessing Bags OC
E: pmdooley1@gmail.com
W: https://blessingbagsoc.com/

We will be at Crossline Church this Sunday Sept 22nd!

Greetings,

It’s been a couple of months since we have given out any Blessing Bags at Crossline’s Connection Booth.  So to stay on course with our mission – to equip every saint with a blessing bag in their car trunk, ready to help someone in need – we will again be at the Connection Booth this coming Sunday to hand out free blessing bags to members.Blessing Bags prep

What’s in a bag you ask?

  • A small bottle of water to satisfy thirst
  • A protein bar for energy
  • A bag of trail mix for healthy food
  • Band aids for any cuts
  • Soap to stay clean
  • Small bottles of shampoo & conditioner
  • A toothbrush with toothpaste
  • Facial tissue paper for hygiene
  • Hand/Body lotion for skin care
  • A hair comb or brush
  • Warm socks to keep the feet warm
  • About how God loves them, to give hope, and assurance that He has a plan and purpose for their life.

We will have about 50 bags available.  Please stop by and see us, and grab your bag so you’re ready to help someone in need! 

About Us

Blessing Bags OC provides an alternative to handing out cash for people that want to help a person in need they run across. We are a small but dedicated group of believers in Orange County, CA, committed to making a difference by showing God’s love in action to those in need that we run across.

Paul and Marie Dooley

Blessing Bags OC
W: www.BlessingBagsOC.com

Gave Out over 50 Blessing Bags on Sunday!

Happy to say that we had a lot of people enthusiastic over Blessing Bags this past Sunday at Crossline Church. The surge came when the young girls doing the announcements held up a blessing bag in front of the church and announced, “these blessing bags are for you! Be equipped to help the homeless should you run into a person in need during your daily travels”.

Blessing Bags OC

After the 11 am service we were flooded at the connection both with dozens of people asking – “What’s a blessing bag”? “Do I fill up the bag myself?” “What do I do with it?” “Where do I give it out?” We were ready! We passed out dozens of blessing bags, equipping church members and visitors to reach out and gift a person in need with a blessing bag – of water, snack bars, snack bags, etc. We told them to be the eyes and hands of Jesus.

So this is our mission – to equip the body of Christ with blessing bags – kits of food and other essentials. To be the eyes, arms and feet of Christ to those in need.

Paul and Marie
Blessing Bags OC

Blessing Bags OC will be at Crossline Sunday June 23rd!

We are delighted to announce that Blessing Bags OC will again be at Crossline Church in Laguna Hills, California, this Sunday June 23rd to handout free blessing bags to visitors and church members, equipping them to minister to a person in need they may run across in their daily activities.

Blessing Bags OC

We live in one of the richest counties in America, yet there are an estimated 6,000 homeless people in Orange Country – living on the street, behind bushes, or under bridges. Join with us to be equipped to lend a meaningful hand to someone you might run across, being the eyes, hand and love of Jesus toward that person. Your encounter with them could make all the difference to them!

Our goal is to equip every member of the church with at least one Blessing Bag for their car trunk. So that when you encounter a person calling out for help at a gas station, on a street corner, in front of a market or gas station, rather than ignoring them or tossing a few dollars at the person, you will be able to stop, grab a Blessing Bag from your car trunk, and minister to the person in a real and helpful way. 

Just stopping and taking a moment to notice them says “I see you”, “I care”. And then when you are able to hand a Blessing Bag to that person, and tell them “God loves you” — which in point of fact He real does – you are impacting that soul, and the community, for Christ. When you bless a person in need like this, your heavenly Father notices, and will bless you in return.

Paul and Marie Dooley
Blessing Bags OC
Help for the Homeless in OC
www.BlessingBagsOC.com

Homeless in Orange County up 28% since 2022

May 9th, 2024 – The Orange County Register reports …

A Dramatic Rise in Homelessness in OC over the Past Two Years

The number of people reported homeless in Orange County increased by 28% in the last two years, according to the latest “point in time count” results released Wednesday by county officials.

The county reported 7,322 people approached during the January count said they were experiencing homelessness. The last count in 2022 tallied 5,718 people either living on the streets in Orange County or staying in shelters.

Of those surveyed this year, 328 were veterans, 308 were young adults between 18 and 24 years old, and 869 were seniors ages 62 or older. “The most concerning thing about the 2024 point in time count summary was the 1,172 individuals who fell into homelessness for the first time in the last 12 months,” Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee said. “We need to do more to prevent homelessness and prevent the trauma before it occurs.” >> Read the full article here.

What Can You do to Help?

If you are a member of Cross Community Church, in Laguna Hills, CA, or a visitor to the church, you can stop by the Connection Booth once a month and pick up a Blessing Bag emergency kit. Put one or two bags in your car trunk, and the next time you run across someone in need, hand them a blessing bag in the name of Jesus. Find out when we will be at the booth next by staying in touch with us by monitoring our Blessing Bags blog.

Local Resources to Help

What about Resources for Food, Clothing, Shelter and Training?

FOOD RESOURCES

Crossline Church – Food Pantry assistance

South County Outreach – Food Market

  • Website: https://www.sco-oc.org/
  • Visit the Food Market once a month. If possible, clients must fill out an application and provide the following documentation: Identification for all Household Members.
  • Located at 7 Whatney, Suite B, Irvine, CA 92618. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Families Forward

  • Website: https://www.families-forward.org/food-pantry/
  • Food assistance Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm.  Families may receive food once a week, and diapers, once a month. No appointment is needed, but you must be registered to receive food.
  • Visit website listed above to register or call (949) 552-2727.
HOUSING RESOURCES

South County Outreach – Housing

  • Website: https://www.sco-oc.org/
  • Rapid Rehousing: Provides financial assistance and case management services to quickly place individuals and families who face imminent homelessness in new homes to ensure that they do not have to sleep in their cars or on the streets.

Mercy House

  • Website: https://www.mercyhouse.net/regions/orange-county
  • Call 714-836-7188
  • Provides housing and comprehensive supportive services to a wide variety of homeless subpopulations including, but not limited to, adult men and women, families, mothers and their children.  Mercy House now operates a complete system of care in Orange County consisting of outreach, emergency shelters, transitional facilities, and permanent residences.
CLOTHING RESOURCES
  • Working Wardrobes, Santa Ana.  (714) 210-2460.  Working Wardrobes provides numerous services including professional clothing, employment, career, financial literacy, and life skills training.
  • Mary’s Kitchen:  (714) 633-0444.  Mary’s Kitchen provides donated clothing to people of all ages. They also offer showers and laundry services and a soup kitchen serving hot and prepared meals.
  • Serve the People:  (714) 352-2911.  Serve the People provides a drive-thru food pantry and clothing donations (when available). They may also provide shoes, hygiene items, toiletries, diapers and other essential items.
  • Helping Others Prepare for Eternity:  (714) 539-4357.  Helping Others Prepare for Eternity provides clothing and diaper kits each month. Food Pantry is also available. Must schedule intake and complete registration.
TRAINING RESOURCES

South County Outreach

  • Website: https://www.sco-oc.org/
  • Program supports clients in attaining stable, living-wage-paying jobs by providing the education and skills needed to set themselves up for success. Topics: budgeting, borrowing, managing debt, financial mgt.

OC Workforce Solutions

  • Website: https://www.ocworkforcesolutions.com/
  • Orange Country’s responsive resource for a full range of no-cost, life-transforming services and programs personalized for our communities’ job seekers.

Successful Morning at Crossline Church! PTL!

May 5, 2024

We were at the Connection Booth at Crossline Church, Laguna Hills, this Sunday morning. Pastor Greg Munck announced that Blessing Bags OC was going to be at the connection booth after the first service, to hand out Blessing Bags to members and visitors, so that they would be equipped to lend a hand and give a blessing bags to someone in need they might run across.

Blessing Bags OC at Crossline

Immediately after the first service we were swamped with requests! People came flooding over to the booth after the service, and we gave out our whole morning supply of 50 bags in less than 20 minutes! We were so happy to hear the comment:

  • This is such a good ministry
  • I run across people who need help, I need a bag for my trunk – and so does my husband
  • I meet so many that need help. May I have three bags?

Praise God for all these saints who want to be ready to reach out and help when the need arises.

Thank you all for your support. We plan to make up another 100 bags or so in the next week or two, and we will be scheduling to be at the Crossline connection booth on another Sunday in the near future. Please check back here for the date.

God bless you all!

Stopping for Gas, Reaching out to Help Chris

May 3, 2024 – From Carol Childers, one of our supporters …

“I was getting gas on Margaret Parkway and I noticed this man sitting by the gas station. I felt he needed some help, so I went to my car trunk and pulled out one of the blessings bags I usually carry. I then gave this man a blessing bag. I asked if I could pray for him, but he didn’t answer. His name was Chris.

I asked what his story was and he said “I’m just on the street for now”. He had kind eyes

I went ahead anyway and said a short prayer for Chris to the Lord. Please remember Chris in your prayers.

We will be at Crossline Church this Sunday May 5th!

We are delighted to announce that Blessing Bags OC will again be at Crossline Church in Laguna Hills, California, this Sunday May 5thth to handout free blessing bags to visitors and church members, equipping them to minister to a person in need they may run across in their daily activities.

We live in one of the richest counties in America, yet there are an estimated 6,000 homeless people in Orange Country – living on the street, behind bushes, or under bridges. Join with us to be equipped to lend a meaningful hand to someone you might run across, being the eyes, hand and love of Jesus toward that person. Your encounter with them could make all the difference to them!

Our goal is to equip every member of the church with at least one Blessing Bag for their car trunk. So that when you encounter a person calling out for help at a gas station, on a street corner, in front of a market or gas station, rather than ignoring them or tossing a few dollars at the person, you will be able to stop, grab a Blessing Bag from your car trunk, and minister to the person in a real and helpful way. 

Just stopping and taking a moment to notice them says “I see you”, “I care”. And then when you are able to hand a Blessing Bag to that person, and tell them “God loves you” — which in point of fact He real does – you are impacting that soul, and the community, for Christ. When you bless a person in need like this, your heavenly Father notices, and will bless you in return.

Paul and Marie Dooley
Blessing Bags OC
www.BlessingBagsOC.com

Ronit Continues to Pass Out Blessing Bags

Update 2/12/24

Ronit, a dear friend of our, attends Crossline Church in Laguna Niguel with us and may others. She is a Messianic Jew, and very on fire for the Lord (who we call Jesus but many of our Jewish brothers and sisters know as Yeshua). Ronit continues to pass out Blessing Bags as she ministers to people she meets in her daily travels, and in her engagements in the surrounding community. On Sundays, Ronit can be seen biking to church, and sharing the good news of Jesus (Yeshua) with new guests.

Here are just a few notes on some of her latest encounters with homeless or people in need:

  • Wed Feb 7th – Grateful able to give out OC Blessing bags today and pray with recipients Emmanuel Alejandro and Manuel on North El Toro Road
  • Mon Feb 12th – Was able to provide a blessing bag to Mario, and pray with him, at a local bus stop

Thankyou Ronit for your continued support and faithfulness!