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More than 60 children, teens, parents, young adults, and clergy from Orthodox parishes across Orange County recently came together with one purpose: to make Christ’s love visible by serving neighbors in need.
The gathering was part of FOCUS North America’s Back-to-School Backpack Program, which mobilizes Orthodox Christians across all jurisdictions to provide backpacks and school supplies to students in need.
Locally, the August 2 event at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church brought together volunteers from at least four Orange County Orthodox parishes to assemble more than 300 backpacks for local students.
More Than 300 Backpacks Packed with Care
Under the leadership of Fr. Justin Bosl, volunteers gathered for an afternoon of fellowship and service.
Before the work got underway, Fr. Justin offered a simple but meaningful reminder: treat each backpack tenderly and with care for the student who would eventually receive it.
That spirit carried through the afternoon as children worked alongside parents, teens served alongside clergy, and parish communities came together to fill backpacks with school supplies.
Fr. George Katrib of St. Mark Orthodox Church and Fr. Chris Retelas of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church also joined volunteers in assembling the backpacks.
The room was filled with fellowship and fun as volunteers worked together and shared a pizza lunch.
The finished backpacks are being distributed by FOCUS Orange County to schools in Anaheim, Westminster, and San Juan Capistrano.
Each one is a tangible reminder to the child receiving it that he or she is seen, valued, and supported.
We are grateful to everyone who donated and participated in this project. Your generosity and loving service reveal the living presence of Christ in our community.
Making the Food Pantry More Accessible
That same spirit of service continues each month through the FOCUS Orange County Food Pantry.
Recently, the pantry expanded its hours to both Friday and Saturday, giving more families an opportunity to stop by and pick up food for their households.
Over the two days, FOCUS Orange County served 14 families, including 23 children, and distributed 839 food items valued at approximately $1,800.
This was only the second month of offering Friday pantry hours, and the response was encouraging: most families chose to come on Friday.
Adding the extra day is making the pantry more accessible and giving families another opportunity to receive the groceries they need.
By the end of the week, the pantry shelves were nearly bare—and that’s a good thing.
It means the food went exactly where it was needed.
Families left with bags full of groceries, children had more food options at home, and our neighbors received a little extra support for the days ahead.
The Food Pantry is only possible because people continue to donate, volunteer, and spread the word. Its food supplies are tailored to the specific needs of the population FOCUS Orange County serves, helping the Center answer Christ’s call to feed the hungry.
Feeding the Hungry with Bread of Life
FOCUS Orange County volunteers also returned to Bread of Life Ministry in Huntington Beach for another afternoon of food and fellowship.
Donors and volunteers from St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine gathered in the parish kitchen to contribute food and prepare a nourishing meal. Volunteers also assembled brown bag meals filled with nonperishable food for guests to take with them.
The meals were then transported to Bread of Life Ministry at Christ Pacific Church, where volunteers served 57 men and women in need.
In total, 34 donors and volunteers participated, opening their hearts and making Christ’s love visible to some of Orange County’s most vulnerable residents.
The dining room was filled with joy and lively fellowship among volunteers and guests, and each person received an additional brown bag meal to take with them after the hot meal service ended.
Making Christ’s Love Visible
Whether packing school supplies for a child, filling grocery bags for a family, or sitting down to share a meal with someone experiencing homelessness, each of these ministries begins with the same call to love our neighbor.
As Proverbs reminds us:
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.”
We are blessed by each person who gives and serves our most vulnerable neighbors in need. And we ask that you remember them in your prayers as well.
It is not enough to meet physical needs. Our hope is that through every backpack packed, every bag of groceries distributed, every meal served, and every relationship formed, our neighbors might also experience the love of Christ demonstrated through His people.
Thank you to everyone who continues to give, volunteer, pray, and serve. Your generosity and support fuel the mission of FOCUS Orange County to serve our neighbors in need.
