Connect the Hearts aids individuals, senior citizens or families in need, if they are housed, living in their vehicles or are homeless.
Parameters/requirements for receiving aid from the foundation are based on an in-person interview where we will assess each individual situation. All aid is based on available funds.
Connect the Hearts is here to help those in need through both immediate situations and longer commitments.
All Clients may be eligible for the following aid based on need:
- Advocacy with government agencies, legal, medical, educational, other charitable organizations
- Food, clothing, shoes
- Assistance/transportation to errands and appointments
- Bus passes, retail gift cards
- Cell phones/wireless bills
- Assistance with rent, utilities, insurance, other bills
- Medical devices, (e.g., wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers)
- Christmas gifts
- Assistance with Infant/Toddler: Diapers, formula, wipes, baby gear, (e.g., car seats, pack n play, monitors)
- Assistance with Educational related items, (e.g., backpacks, school supplies, computers, tutoring)
- Tools for house-building volunteers in Mexico
- Furniture, large and small appliances
- Home repairs (e.g., termites, code violations, flooding, heating/A/C)
- Vehicle repairs
- Gasoline cards
- DMV assistance
- Advocacy/assistance to secure short term, temporary housing (hotel rooms)
- Blankets, carts, rain gear
Connect the Hearts also supports and collaborates with existing Programs and established Charities, such as:
- Friendship Shelter
- Mercy House
- Project Mercy
- International Relief Teams
- Local Church Ministries
- Orange County Rescue Mission
Connect the Hearts is a bridge, leading people in need to other charitable organizations to receive further, more specialized help.
Below are some real life Connect the Hearts brothers and sisters whose names have been changed.
Kateri, Lucy, Jacob
This family (an elderly mother, her daughter and their cousin) was living in their car. The family was unable to register this car because it was so old and broken down, it could not pass smog test. Connect the Hearts helped the family find a used car, get their registration tags. Lucy’s health took a down turn. Connect the Hearts helped secure housing for 3 monthsduring Lucy’s hospice period and passing. Connect the Hearts helped with cremation expenses.
Monica
Monica, disabled senior citizen, has been homeless for almost 20 years. Connect the Hearts helped Monica with temporary housing, food and medicine, periodically for 3 years. Connect the Hearts continues to help advocate for Monica with various other organizations and agencies in hopes of finding her a permanent home.
Theresa
Theresa worked hard but was unable to secure affordable housing, she had to live in her car. It is nearly impossible to legally park and sleep in a car overnight in the local area. Parking lots and residential streets are patrolled and she continually was asked to move. Her car broke down in one of these parking lots. She was stuck. Connect the Hearts had her car towed and repaired. Being without her car, meant she had no place to sleep. Connect the Hearts also put her in a hotel room during the repairs.
Deborah
Deborah’s car broke down in a public parking lot where it is illegal to park overnight. She could barely afford the repairs, let alone the expense if her car got towed and impounded. Connect the Hearts helped her tow her car and make the needed repairs.
Sarah
Sarah was a single mom and 4 months late on her car payment. She knew every day that her car could be taken away. Connect the Hearts helped her pay the minimum amount to prevent repossession from happening. This bought Sarah some time to work extra shifts, save up and get caught up on her payments.
Rita
Electricity bill. Rita separated from her husband due to his substance abuse. As a single mom with 3 kids and baby on the way, she struggled to make ends meet. Three weeks before her due date, she developed a life-threatening condition requiring a c-section. Meanwhile, her electricity bill was 4 months overdue and she was at risk of the power being turned off. Connect the Hearts paid the amount due to prevent this from happening.
Naomi
Used car and temporary housing. Naomi and her husband Joe are a young couple with 3 kids, 5, 3 and 1. They were living in motels and sometimes in their car. They were stuck – stuck in a high rent area. Although they received subsidized childcare, the family needed a second car to allow Naomi to enter the workforce. Connect the Hearts helped them purchase a reliable used car for Naomi. This was the boost that this family needed to get “unstuck.” With 2 cars and 2 jobs, they were able to relocate to a more affordable location to live and work and raise their family.
Juliana
Landscaping. Juliana is a senior citizen living in a small home in a high fire danger canyon. The electric company required her to pay for all of the large trees to be trimmed away from the power lines. She could not do this task alone and could not afford tree service. Her safety and good standing with the power company were at risk. Connect the Hearts hired a landscaper to trim the trees back to meet the safety requirements.
Mark
Connect the Hearts purchased 4 tires for his car so he can go to work and drive his family in a safe car.
Benjamin
Due to health issues, Benjamin could no longer drive a car. Connect the Hearts helped drive to Arizona to pick up an RV that was in storage. This allowed him to eliminate the cost of storage and begin the process of selling this RV.
Diana
Diana’s car broke down, she could not get groceries. Connect the Hearts replaced Diana’s car battery and brought her food from a local food bank. Connect the Hearts gave her a ride to the airport for her to fly to a job interview in a state that has a lower cost of living.