Las Sabinas, Volume 35, Number 4, 2009 Page: 26
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Las Sabinas History Journal and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Orange County Historical Society.
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Orange Christian Services. We needed to supplement the income received from the
member churches, individuals, organizations, businesses and grants. Some of the early
fundraisers were a concession stand at the July 4t Freedom Fest and an Arabian Horse
Show. There was never a lack of volunteers for these events. Many hours of planning,
preparing and working the fundraisers brought the OCS family even closer and enabled
us to continue assisting those in need in Orange County.
The Food Program expanded with the addition of the Orange Leader Milk Fund Program.
This program provided milk once every two weeks to children, birth through 12 years of
age. Funds were donated to the Orange Leader and passed on to Orange Christian
Services. This program continues today; however, the donations are given directly to
OCS. In 1991, there were 2,466 families that participated in the Milk Fund Program. In
2007, there were 2,081 families receiving milk from this program. In 2008, due to
Hurricane Ike, the number was down to 1,858 families participating in the program.
By 1995, our building at 316 Cypress was becoming too small for the size of our ministry
programs and activities. We continued providing assistance of food, clothing,
prescriptions, medical/dental emergencies, transportation for medical purposes, rent and
utilities. OCS had applied for and been approved for the Community Service Block
Grant to help with rent, utilities and prescriptions. Special programs for the clients
consisted of back-to-school and Christmas food and toys. Over the next several years the
building seem to shrink in size. The client waiting room had seating for around 15
people. On very busy days or during special programs, clients would have to wait
outside in line until a chair was available inside. The wait was often long, as each client
had to be interviewed for client assistance. We had three interview rooms, a small pantry
and overflowing clothing area.
In early 1997 a Building Research Committee Task Force was appointed. Those serving
were Bob Axelson, Chairperson, Pat Ezell, Eddie Franklin and Lou Garriga. Serving as
advisory members were John Everett, Linn Cardner and Jim Robichaux. The search
began for a larger facility for Orange Christian Services. In May 1997, this committee,
OCS officers and staff looked at the former YMCA building on West Park. The
possibilities were evident for our ministry program, but the selling price was not in our
range. All other locations we had looked at had been ruled out. Plans were being drawn
up to enlarge our present building on Cypress.
In August 1997, we were informed the YMCA building was for sale and priced to sell
quickly. V.J. Zeto, Board President of OCS at the time and his wife Jean, purchased the
YMCA building and acreage. They in turn lovingly donated the building to Orange
Christian Services in memory of their mothers, Lena Tremonte Zeto and Silvia Tyrell
Henley. We were humbled at the generosity and ready for the work ahead.
A day of dedication, prayer and tour of the building was held in October 1997 for the
OCS volunteers and board members. There was a great amount of yard work and
exterior clean up to be done. Many meetings were held to discuss and plan the
renovations and repairs to the building. Committees were formed and actual work to the26
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Orange County Historical Society (Tex.). Las Sabinas, Volume 35, Number 4, 2009, periodical, 2009; Orange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth312948/m1/32/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Orange County Historical Society.