Alliance Agency Delivers Help to Struggling Families

Since opening in 1981, Ecumenical Service Alliance’s San Clemente branch has helped thousands of disadvantaged South County residents by providing them with food, clothing, transportation vouchers and other essential day-to-day goods.

On average each month, the agency assists more than 1,200 families and individuals who are struggling to survive financially, and also helps the homeless, Ellen Gilchrist, ESA manager, said.

“We open our doors to everybody,” Gilchrist said.

Besides distributing food and other supplies, the agency operates a thrift store that generates money for the charity and provides clients with clothes. ESA also recently started a job training program in which counselors teach people how to apply and interview for a job.

The San Clemente center is one of several countywide ESA-sponsored programs. Founded by Episcopalians in 1978 and now run by a coalition of churches, across the county ESA operates three homeless shelters, four community service centers, two food pantries and a refugee resettlement program.

Gilchrist said that, even though ESA receives state and federal funding, most of the center’s supplies and financing come from the community, churches, schools and businesses. Most of the center’s staff consists of volunteers, whom she describes as “good, giving people.”

During the holidays, ESA sponsors a food drive to keep its pantry full of canned foods and other nonperishable items. Volunteers also take part in adopt-a-family programs that provide meals of turkey with all the trimmings.

ESA is at 1709 N. El Camino Real. Information: (714) 361-7545.