Share Our Selves
Founded in 1970 by a group of concerned individuals, primarily members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa, Share Our Selves (SOS) has grown to become a model nonprofit organization providing the highest quality comprehensive safety net services to the homeless and low-income populations in Orange County.
Share Our Selves was established to provide for the most serious concerns of the poor residing in Orange County – food, clothing and emergency financial aid for housing, transportation, prescriptions and children's needs. In 1984, the mission of SOS expanded to include medical care and 1987 expanded further to include dental care. The Comprehensive CARE Center opened in 2005 to provide mental health and counseling services. In September of 2010, SOS partnered with El Sol Academy, a charter school in Santa Ana, to open the SOS-El Sol Wellness Center. The Wellness Center is a school-based clinic that provides social services, screening and urgent care to the students and their families.
SOS acts as a caring and non-discriminating servant and works for increased awareness and systemic change in response to the needs of thousands of homeless and financially disadvantaged in our community. Fostering an environment of respect and compassion, SOS makes the inherent dignity of the individual a top priority. For 40 years SOS has provided a safety net to those needing emergency assistance. We pride ourselves on our fast response time, quality services, lack of bureaucracy, and caring response to those in crisis.
SOS:
- 200 Social Services volunteers
- 200 Medical/Dental volunteers
- Approximately 40 employees
- The largest emergency relief agency giving out direct aid in Orange County
We Serve:
- All of Orange County.
- Those living at or near the poverty level.
- The uninsured.
- The working poor.
- Families.
- The homeless.
SHARE OUR SELVES is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
| Executive Director: | Karen McGlinn |
| Medical Director: | Dr. Jose Mayorga |
| Dental Director: | Dr. Jila Nikkhah |
| Annual Budget: | Cash and in-kind donations allow SOS to manage a $10 million dollar budget |
| Federal Tax I.D. #: | 95-3222316 |
The 2011–2012 fiscal year budget for SOS is $4.8 million; including in-kind donations SOS manages a $5.9 million dollar budget. Out of every dollar donated, $.90 goes to direct program services and $.10 to administration, fund–raising, and other non–program services.