Eric Madura, who took point on coordinating the group, knew that this was an important opportunity to support some of the more than 35,000 homeless in Orange County. 
The team also made a donation of $1,000 to The Rescue Mission on behalf of the participating volunteers. The donation will help to provide more than 650 hot meals to those in need.

"We know it's just a drop in the bucket with respect to what's needed in Orange County," said Madura, "but we hope that the support and gift that we were able to provide will help to get some of those we met tonight back on their feet."

Local media reports have shown that demand for services through the county's homeless service organizations have skyrocketed by more than 250 percent over the last year, while donations and support have tapered off, a change many think is related to the nation's economic downturn.

The soup kitchen is provided by the Orange County Rescue Mission, the county's largest privately funded human service agency for the poor and homeless. It's stated mission is to serve "the least, last and lost of Orange County". 

The Rescue Mission provides more than 853,000 meals a year. It's flagship location, the Village of Hope, is a transitional housing program with the ability to house 192 homeless people, built by converting former military barracks at the Tustin Marine base. This facility alone provides more than 1,000 hot meals a day.

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