Costa Mesa, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/10/2009 -- While the rest of us worry about finding the perfect Christmas tree or the prettiest wrapping paper, there is a sizeable group of people in Orange County who have a simpler holiday wish: food and shelter. Determined to help these less fortunate individuals, local business owner Corey Donaldson has launched a dynamic campaign to raise $40,000 in 40 days for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa. And thanks to a tremendously generous anonymous donor, any contribution of up to $10,000 will be matched, dollar for dollar.

“We forget that there are plenty of people, right here in our own backyard, who desperately need our help,” said Donaldson, a Costa Mesa resident who began helping the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen last year when the organization was hard-hit by the downturned economy. “There are a lot of misperceptions about the type of people that benefit from the soup kitchen. These are people from cities including Costa Mesa, Newport, Irvine and Laguna Beach who are in a tough spot for some reason or another. Some are simply on a tight budget and can’t afford groceries, and others have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis.”

Currently, the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen serves more than 300 guests per day, seven days per week. Meals are provided Monday through Friday from 1-4 p.m., and a pancake breakfast is served every Saturday and Sunday morning. Of those served, approximately 25 percent are families with school-aged children, 30 percent are homeless, 20 percent are working poor or unemployed, 10 percent are mentally or physically challenged and 15 percent are senior citizens.

In 2008, Donaldson successfully spearheaded a campaign to raise $30,000 in 30 days for the soup kitchen’s holiday programs—and this year was determined to step up the donation amount with his “$40K in 40 Days” initiative. The money raised will go toward helping the soup kitchen give 400 backpacks to the homeless; 800 backpacks filled with holiday gifts to children; and a holiday dinner serving up to 1,200 individuals. The remaining funds will go toward the soup kitchen’s ongoing programs, including its tutoring center for at-risk kids.

To play your part in helping the underprivileged in Orange County, visit http://www.someonecares40kin40days.com where you can learn more about Donaldson’s campaign or make a donation via PayPal. For those who want to see their money double, donations will be matched until Dec. 15; but contributions can be made until Dec. 20. A “Happy Hour for the Holidays” fundraising event also will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, at Woody’s Wharf in Newport Beach, and will feature appetizers, DJ Johnny Paris and more than 40 silent auction items.

About Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
The mission of Someone Cares Soup Kitchen is simple: to feed a daily nutritional meal to the homeless, the unemployed, the working poor, the mentally challenged, the physically challenged, the senior citizens and most important of all—the children. Driven by the belief that no one should go to bed hungry, on the street or otherwise, the soup kitchen provides a nutritious and tasteful meal to the less fortunate in the Orange County community; a meal that people would be proud to serve their family at home; a well-balanced meal made fresh daily consisting of vegetable soup, lettuce and fruit salads, hearty and filling side dishes, breads and muffins, dessert, milk and water. Located in Costa Mesa, CA, the Soup Kitchen provides this meal to guests in a friendly, non-threatening atmosphere. For more information, visit http://www.someonecareskitchen.org.