CREER 2025 Holiday Fundraiser

Dear Friends of CREER,

Greetings! We hope this note finds you and your families doing well, and you are looking forward to an amazing Holiday Season, starting with Thanksgiving! All of us at CREER would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has contributed to our programs and services.  We would not have been able to make it this far without your support. We also want to thank all our volunteers for their dedication and hard work; you are the heart that makes us beat! And more importantly, we are grateful for all the families who continue to give us their trust and have allowed us to serve them throughout the years. It is a privilege to serve you! Thank you!  

As many of you may know, this year has been a particular and challenging year for funding. We are once again asking all of our fun and loyal CREER supporters to please donate to the CREER Holiday Fundraising, and to forward this note to anyone that may be able to help us raise the needed funds. Please be so kind to send your donation to CREER, P.O. Box 1347, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693 or use the below donate now button. 

As many in our community, we have been severely affected by the impact of the most devastating economy since the 2020 Covid-19 Crisis, which is getting worse due to the Government Shutdown, and the suspension of SNAP and CalFresh benefits. We, at CREER, feel overwhelmed with the increased demands of families asking for food at the CREER Food & Diaper Distributions in South Orange County. 

On Tuesday, October 28th, we had to turn away more than 60 families without food. We are deeply concerned that the demand for food, diapers, and services is only going to dramatically increase during the Holidays. On Tuesday, we served 439 families and 137 children with diapers, as it is, sometimes, we cannot serve the more than 430 families that we serve due to the constant changes on food availability. 

We are requesting your help more than ever this Holiday Season to raise the $40,000.00 that we need to continue with our food and diaper distribution efforts next year. It is of vital importance that we raise these funds by the end of the year. We know that with your help and generosity, we will be able to achieve our goal.

“No one can measure the effects of a single act of giving, for its repercussions are beyond our limited imagination.” - Taitetsu Unno. 

According to an article published in OC Voice, food insecurity in Orange County is on the rise and the available resources are just not enough to keep up with the demand. We, of course, know this; we live it every other Tuesday. Last Tuesday we had to turn away more than 60 families because we did not have enough food for all the families who came to the CREER Food & Diaper Distributions. 

The CREER Food Pantry has completed 284 weeks (65 Months) of food and diaper distribution to families affected economically by the declining economy. By Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, we have distributed more than 4,271 pallets, 286,108 boxes/bags of food, 264 pallets of diapers, and more than $185,752.00 in emergency funds and goods. The food boxes represent 1,144,432 meals distributed in 66 months. In the last 284 weeks, the average number of families served is 132,807 with an average of 4 individuals per family, the average number of people served by the CREER Pantry is 532,228. The CREER Food and Diaper Distribution operate without interruptions on a bi-weekly basis. 

The funds will be utilized to pay for protein, dairy, and canned foods to complement the veggie boxes from the OC Food Bank. Also, we will buy turkeys, chicken, eggs, meat, sausages, ham, milk and whatever else becomes available from the OC Food Bank to make the CREER Food Pantry’s offerings healthier. We will also utilize the funds to provide snacks for the many volunteers that make the CREER Food & Diaper Distributions possible every other week. 

CREER believes that education is the key that will open the door to a better future for our children and their families. Our educational programs help close the academic and cultural gaps that poverty creates. Unfortunately, and due to lack of funding and space to host the 2025 CREER Summer Programs were canceled. However, and thanks to the close and long partnership with Emerald Day Cove Summer Programs and Rockstar Ministries’ generosity we were able to send 35 CREER students to a one-week summer session on full scholarships, a $750 dollar value per child. 

CREER aims to give our children and youth academic success, leading to higher education and an artistic base as alternatives to negative influences. Our cultural and performing arts programs especially aim to give the children and youth of our community the opportunity to develop a keen sense of belonging and to understand that hard work and commitment will help them achieve their goals in life. It is of vital importance that we have the funds to implement our educational and cultural programs in 2026.  

CREER is a universal program that will never be discriminatory to anyone. Although 95% of the families that CREER serves live in poverty and are of Hispanic descent, all of our programs are open to whomever needs food, diapers, or educational Programs.

We are looking into the future with hope, and with your help, the continued support of the OC Food Bank, the City of San Juan Capistrano, and the generosity of so many members of our community, we will make sure our children and their families continue to have food on their tables and much needed access to quality educational programs.

Please help us celebrate this Holiday Season by donating to any of our programs and sending your check to CREER Comunidad y Familia at P.O. Box 1347, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693 or by using the below donate now button. Any funding consideration will be heartily appreciated by all of us at CREER, but more importantly our children and their families. We need your help more than ever.  We thank you again for your continued support and dedication to the CREER Mission. Have an amazing Holiday Season!

With Infinite Gratitude,

Angeles, Rosario, The CREER Board of Directors,

Our Children, and their Families.