Garden Grove, California – On Sunday, January 31st, 2010, Garden Grove United Methodist Church held a special worship celebration to highlight the partnership that led to the development of a transportation program for seniors in the city. The partnership with Orange County Transportation Authority, the Office On Aging, and the City came together through a grassroots effort from GGUMC leaders, who received help with faith-based community organizing from Orange County Congregation Community Organization.
GGUMC’s leaders spearheaded the movement to develop a transportation program for seniors. With the help of OCCCO’s community organizers, local leadership was developed into a local organizing ministry, comprised of leaders like Jack Mee, Evelyn McCart, and Shirley Kellogg. Those are the people that led the efforts to listen to the stories in the community, and heard the need to lift up the dignity of seniors, many of whom are founding citizens of the city.
With OCCCO’s help, local organizing ministry leaders brought the issue to light, and developed working relations between public officials and constituents to create solutions together. Today, seniors in the city can enjoy local travel to do their shopping, go to the community center, and participate in social activities due to the success and persistence of the grassroots campaign championed by OCCCO leaders at GGUMC.
The local organizing ministry at GGUMC holds a public meeting every first Monday of the month at 3 p.m. in Ricker Lounge. With OCCCO, faith-based community organizing is alive and strong in Garden Grove.
Contact Q. Bao Nguyen at 714-931-6041 or bao@occcopico.org.