Goodwill Orange County has expanded its offerings at the Goodwill Marketplace store in Santa Ana.
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The marketplace is not like other Goodwill stores or its boutiques. Instead, it’s a bin thrift shop, where shoppers sort through large bins of mostly clothing.
The nonprofit said it recently expanded the bin count at the store, adding 35 more. Shoppers pay by the pound.
The store recently added Saturday hours, too. Weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The bin shop is located within the Goodwill OC headquarters campus at the intersection of Fairview and 5th streets.
Address: 2722 W. 5th St., Santa Ana
Restaurant grants available for SoCal operators
The nonprofit California Restaurant Foundation has launched its sixth annual Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, offering a total $1,280,000 in grants for eligible independent restaurants and commercial caterers across the state.
Those who qualify can apply for $5,000 grants to help their business and staff.
“The Resilience Fund has evolved into a powerful engine for growth and stability within California’s restaurant community, and each year, we see firsthand how these grants help operators overcome immediate challenges while also investing in their future, whether that’s upgrading kitchens, adopting new technology or supporting and retaining their teams,” said Alycia Harshfield, president of CRF. “As the industry continues to navigate new pressures, this fund remains a critical resource for helping independent restaurants adapt, grow and thrive.”
The grants will help owners pay for kitchen equipment upgrades, technology improvements, employee training, retention and recovery from hardships.
The program, born during the pandemic in 2021, has provided $11 million in funding to 2,087 independent restaurant operators and caterers in 50 California counties.
The organization said the grant breakdown went like this:
—31% for equipment upgrades
—21% for employee training and retention
—15% for lingering Covid money loss
— 12% natural disasters (wildfires and the like)
—9% for tech upgrades
—8% for industry disruptions (Hollywood strikes)
CRF said that 90% of grant recipients are single-unit operators, with an average of 10 years in business. They employ a combined 26,500 people in California.
Eligible restaurant owners and caterers must be customers of PG&E or SoCalGas, operate in California and meet program requirements. Previous grant recipients can apply again for a different location or concept. Existing food businesses that are expanding are also eligible.
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Applications will be accepted up to June 30, and grant recipients will be announced Aug. 23.
To apply or find more information, go to https://restaurantscare.org/resilience.
Free tax filing program helps thousands
Orange County United Way’s OC Free Tax Prep program for the 2025 tax season prepared 15,365 tax returns in Orange County. The organization said the program helped thousands of residents in the county.
Here’s a snapshot of the good work:
—$17.1 million in federal and state refunds issued, as well as more than $3.4 million in federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), and more than $4.5 million in other tax credits
—$4.2 million saved in tax preparation fees
OC United Way worked with 32 partner organizations, providing free tax filing assistance to taxpayers earning less than $69,000 in 2025. The program enlisted the help of 695 volunteers who spent a combined 25,355 hours providing tax preparation services and outreach to low- to moderate-income residents.
Frank Harris recently joined the Orange County Power Authority, a nonprofit clean energy provider in Irvine, as its regulatory and legislative manager. (Photo courtesy of OCPA)
Carlo Bencomo-Jasso recently joined the Orange County Power Authority, a nonprofit clean energy provider in Irvine, as its rates and revenue manager. (Photo courtesy of OCPA)
Lidia Gardner is the new vice president of Clinical and Medical Affairs at CureDuchenne, a nonprofit focused on finding and funding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. (Photo courtesy of CureDuchenne)
On the move
Frank Harris and Carlo Bencomo-Jasso recently joined the Orange County Power Authority, a nonprofit clean energy provider in Irvine. Harris joins as regulatory and legislative manager, bringing with him 20 years of experience working with the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board and the California Municipal Utilities Association. Bencomo-Jasso is the organization’s new rates and revenue manager working with the finance and data analytics team. Most recently, he was a senior manager at NewGen Strategies & Solutions.
Lidia Gardner is the new vice president of Clinical and Medical Affairs at CureDuchenne, a nonprofit focused on finding and funding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Gardner has 15 years of experience in clinical strategy, patient advocacy, evidence generation, medical education and scientific leadership in neuromuscular and neuroimmunology diseases. She most recently was senior medical director of Global Medical Affairs – Neurology & Immunology at EMD Serono, a division of Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany.
Grants
Think Together is the recipient of $125,000 from Boeing. The money will go toward expanding the nonprofit’s STEM curriculum and Workforce Readiness and Employment Program. The program guides K-12 students at 72 Think Together sites. The latest grant brings Boeing’s total contribution to more than $700,000 for Think Together STEM and WREP programs in seven years. The money will go toward the 5,880 students enrolled in Think Together sites across Los Angeles and Orange counties. “Through our partnership with Think Together, we are proud to help expand access to hands-on learning experiences that inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers,” said Mark Taylor, a senior director at Boeing.
Harvesters, a women-only volunteer organization that raises awareness and money for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, gave three local nonprofits a combined $39,960 at its eighth annual Innovative Service Award program. The money will help the organizations implement or enhance their food distribution models. The year’s recipients are Orangewood Foundation, North Orange Christian Church and OC First Assembly of God.
John Correra of Costa Mesa recently received the Self Advocate Award from the Regional Center of Orange County at its annual Spotlight Awards held in May. He’s been a Project Independence client for two decades. (Photo courtesy of the Regional Center of Orange County)
Milestones
John Correra of Costa Mesa recently received the Self Advocate Award from the Regional Center of Orange County at its annual Spotlight Awards held in May. The Self Advocate award is for an “individual who has a developmental disability and who, through their personal or professional achievements, has brought a greater public awareness of and recognition to the abilities of all people with developmental disabilities in Orange County.” RCOC has hosted the awards since 1997, recognizing people and organizations who stand out as role models while working with people with developmental disabilities. RHOC recognized Correra, a Project Independence client for two decades, for his strides in health and wellness and fundraising for the annual Walk for Independence.
Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to [email protected]. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
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