News Summary
Families Forward leaders in Irvine, California, are making significant strides in early childhood education and community stability with two new board appointments. CEO Madelynn Hirneise joins the First 5 Orange County board, and CFO Erica Berrios is appointed to the Orange County Head Start board. Additionally, Families Forward has launched a new Community Market to support families in need, providing a dignified grocery-like shopping experience and serving around 800 families monthly, especially in response to increased demand post-pandemic.
Irvine, California – Families Forward leaders are taking significant steps to enhance early childhood education and community stability in Orange County with two new appointments to influential boards. Madelynn Hirneise, CEO of Families Forward, has been appointed to the board of directors for First 5 Orange County, while Erica Berrios, CFO of Families Forward, joins the board of directors for Orange County Head Start. Together, they will work to improve systems that support young children and families in need.
Hirneise and Berrios bring extensive expertise in housing and homelessness prevention, aligning with Families Forward’s commitment to creating a coordinated system of care for families facing challenges. Their involvement on these boards is seen as a crucial step toward offering families the necessary resources to thrive.
In addition to their board appointments, Families Forward has launched a new Community Market at its headquarters in Irvine. This new initiative represents a shift from a traditional food pantry into a more dignified shopping experience designed to foster community engagement. The goal is to create an atmosphere akin to a grocery store, enhancing relationship-building and community ties among families.
The Community Market has been well-received, serving approximately 800 families each month, with demand remaining high since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In response to the increasing need for support, Families Forward is prioritizing upstream solutions to prevent families from requiring food assistance in the first place.
The new Community Market features a spacious 670-square-foot shopping area along with an additional refrigerated walk-in for improved food storage. Each participating family is provided with a shopping sheet tailored to their size, ensuring ease in navigating available resources, and the market offers real-time inventory updates through digitization.
Supported by a significant investment of around $200,000 from the San Diego Gas & Electric Company Community Assistance Fund, along with over $300,000 in other grants and in-kind donations, the Community Market is a testament to the collaborative effort to support local families. The project has also benefited from large artistic murals created by local artist Phoebe Nelson, owner of Pandr Design Co.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Community Market, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner spoke about the importance of community-driven support rather than relying solely on government solutions, while Irvine Mayor Larry Agran underscored the essential need for food security and housing for all residents in the area.
A local resident named Dalal, who has benefited from both housing and food assistance, shared her positive experiences at the Community Market, reflecting the impact of Families Forward’s initiatives on families in the community.
Families Forward is actively seeking volunteers to support the Community Market, stating that they now require twice the number of volunteers compared to past operations. Interested individuals can find more information on volunteer opportunities and services by visiting Families Forward’s website at families-forward.org.
This initiative, coupled with the leadership appointments of Hirneise and Berrios, marks a renewed commitment to fostering early childhood education and community stability amidst an evolving social landscape.
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Additional Resources
- Families Forward Leaders Appointed to Key Early Childhood Boards
- Wikipedia: Early Childhood Education
- New Community Market Provides Families in Need Dignity
- Google Search: Community Market for Families
- Families Forward Creates Community Market
- Google Scholar: Food Assistance Programs
- Samueli Foundation Invests in Eviction Prevention
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Housing
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- Google News: Eviction Prevention Programs
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COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
