A Love Letter to Our Communities
Orange and Buena Park are more than dots on a map to us. They are living, breathing communities where families put down roots, raise children, celebrate milestones, and weather hardships together.
They are also places where the reality of poverty often lives quietly, behind closed doors. It is not always visible from the outside. It does not always look the way people expect. It often looks like families doing their best in a region where the cost of living continues to rise and where one unexpected expense can quickly turn into a crisis.
In Orange, long-time residents share streets with new families trying to find their footing. Generations live side by side, each navigating their own definition of stability. In Buena Park, parents balance multiple jobs, long commutes, and childcare while doing everything they can to give their children a sense of normalcy and security. These cities are vibrant and diverse, filled with resilience and pride, but they are not immune to food insecurity, housing instability, or the stress of living on the edge of financial uncertainty. Friendly Center hopes to alleviate as much of that stress for our families by providing support through our services.
Our Friendly Mart locations in Orange and Buena Park were created to meet families where they are, not just geographically, but emotionally as well. They are spaces built on trust, where asking for help does not come with shame or judgment. They are designed to feel welcoming and familiar, places where families can breathe a little easier and feel respected in moments that are often overwhelming.
At our Friendly Marts, families are not rushed through a process or made to feel like a number on a list. They are greeted by staff and volunteers who take the time to listen and who understand that support is about more than food. It is about connection. It is about dignity. It is about reminding people that they are seen and that their community cares about their well-being.
Our work has never been a one-way street. It is a partnership. Friendly Center exists because of Orange and Buena Park. Because of the families who trust us during some of their most vulnerable moments. Because of the donors, volunteers, and local organizations who believe that everyone deserves access to basic needs and the opportunity to build long-term stability.
This is our love letter to two cities that remind us why community matters. Why accessibility matters. Why showing up consistently, year after year, matters more than quick solutions or temporary fixes.
Orange and Buena Park are not just where we work. They are who we serve, and they are the communities we love.