Garden Grove Strong

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents, businesses, and organizations answered the needs of the community through selfless acts of service.

The City commends the community for displaying compassion and strength during this unprecedented time.

Here are just a few local stories of Garden Grove's heroes.

Advanced Beauty College

Garden Grove's Advanced Beauty College President Tam Nguyen, in collaboration with Southern California nail salons, donated over 75,000 face masks, 280,000 gloves, and 10,000 bottles of hand sanitizers to healthcare workers.

Advanced Beauty College is located at 10121 Westminster Avenue.

*LA Times photo. Read the full story here.

Caldwell Family

Nicole and Jason Caldwell encouraged the community to wear a face mask by turning their tree, visible from the front yard, into a fun example. The family decorated the tree by using a white sheet for the mask and painted cardboard for the eyes.

*Orange County Register photo.

Carolina's Italian Restaurant

Recognizing the hardships many families faced during the COVID-19 shutdown, Tim Ibrahim, owner of Carolina's Italian Restaurant, hosted a drive-thru food donation. With the help from the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, 750 Garden Grove residents in need received a free meal.

Carolina's Italian Restaurant is located at 12045 Chapman Avenue.

Chuck E. Cheese

Essential workers at the City received a food donation of pizza and salad from Chuck E. Cheese.

Chuck E. Cheese is located at 13101 Harbor Boulevard.

David Wu

The Garden Grove Public Works Department received a donation of 240 bottles of hand sanitizer from David Wu.

Eric Henninger

Answering the call for face masks, Garden Grove High School computer science teacher, Eric Henninger, created and distributed more than 600 3-D face shields to local healthcare organizations.

*The Orange County Register photo.

Garden Grove CERT

Throughout the pandemic, the Garden Grove Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) provided essential support to the City of Garden Grove and Garden Grove Police Department by regulating the ingress, egress of City facilities; administering traffic and pedestrian control, registration and radio communications at local mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinics, including the Christ Cathedral and Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center PODs; and assisting in face masks and meal distributions at the H. Louis Lake Senior Center.

To learn more about CERT, visit ggcity.org/cert.

H. Louis Lake Senior Center

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior community has been one of the most vulnerable populations. In response, the H. Louis Lake Senior Center revamped their meals program by offering a frozen meal distribution in place of their traditional on-site lunch café. The program, assisted by Meals on Wheels OC, more than tripled in service numbers. Approximately 400 senior citizens were served each week. The program is still on-going.

To learn more about the H. Louis Lake Senior Center's services, visit ggcity.org/senior-center.

Hellen Nguyen

La Quinta High School student and girl scout from Garden Grove Troop 2279, Hellen Nguyen, provided hand-made face coverings to essential workers.

Jodi E. Williams

Donating her time, skills, and resources to uplift the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jodi Williams created public art on several utility boxes throughout the city, including in front of Kaiser Permanente, Garden Grove Hospital, and Fire Station 84. In addition, she painted "melted crayons" near Garden Park Elementary School.

Julie Caldera

Offering free books to the community, Julie Caldera built a little library just outside her home on Park Avenue. She invited residents to take what they wanted and leave what they've already read.

Korean American Federation of Orange County

The Korean American Federation of Orange County donated 2,000 surgical masks to essential workers.

Louie's on Main

Buy in Garden Grove business Louie's on Main donated 100 boxed lunches to essential workers at Garden Grove City Hall.

Louie's on Main is located at 12942 Main Street.

Maher Family

Garden Grove resident, Michael Maher and his two daughters, Maddie and Kaitlyn, organized a share table at Edgar Park, on the corner of Cerulean and Topaz Street. Residents were encouraged to take what they needed and share what they didn't need. Items included bags of food, toilet paper, face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer.

Monica Mo

Providing a solution to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortage, Monica Mo hosted several PPE drives in West Garden Grove, inviting the community to donate new masks to medical workers. In addition, she worked with several local businesses to offer free masks to residents in need and essential workers at designated pick-up locations.

Moving Forward Psychological Institute, Inc

Moving Forward Psychological Institute, Inc donated 10,000 face masks to the City of Garden Grove's family resource centers, which are comprised of the Buena Clinton Youth and Family Center and Magnolia Family Resource Center. The masks will be distributed to Garden Grove residents and center participants. CEO Paul Hoang, a valued partner of the City, is invested in the Garden Grove community.

Ngoc Suong

Ngoc Suong restaurant owner, Khanh Lien, and Heidi Nguyen, from Project Trian, donated meals to Orange County essential workers, including Garden Grove City Hall.

Ngoc Suong restaurant is located at 14580 Brookhurst Street.

Nova Kitchen & Bar

Nova Kitchen & Bar, in collaboration with SCG, generously donated lunches to essential workers at Garden Grove City Hall and the Garden Grove Police Department.

During the pandemic, Nova Kitchen & Bar began project M&M, which aimed to provide meals to healthcare workers once a week. The project was inspired by the mothers of the general manager and chef who worked as front line nurses.

Nova Kitchen & Bar is located at 12361 Chapman Avenue.

Orange County Community Health Affiliation

Through the generosity from local businesses and organizations, the Orange County Community Health Affiliation was able to donate cloth face masks to at-risk community members, including vulnerable seniors.

Orangewood Academy

Orangewood Academy, in collaboration with Ironmen Basketball, OA Athletics, Relove Church, and OC Grace, held a donation drive for families in need. Approximately 200 families from the City's family resource centers received essential items, such as diapers, toiletries, and food.

Orangewood Academy is located at 13732 Clinton Street.

Rotary District 5320, Garden Grove Rotary

The Garden Grove Rotary, along with community volunteers, assembled over 500 lightweight face shields destined for local healthcare facilities and first responders.

Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles

The Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles, in collaboration with the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America, donated 20,000 face masks to the City of Garden Grove. The City distributed the face masks to at-risk populations in Garden Grove.

Vien Minh Temple and Bhikkhuni Dieu Phuoc

Vien Minh Temple, in collaboration with Bhikkhuni Dieu Phuoc, donated 100 individually wrapped meals to essential workers at Garden Grove City Hall.

Widdicombe Enterprises, Inc. dba McDonald's

Through the McDonald's "Thank You Meal" program, Patti Widdicombe, owner and operator of Widdicombe Enterprises, Inc., worked diligently to ensure frontline heroes, such as the Garden Grove Police Department and Garden Grove Public Works Department, were fueled as they combatted COVID-19. In addition, several COVID-19 vaccine clinics were held at local McDonald’s with patients receiving free menu item vouchers to any participating restaurant.

Women's Civic Club of Garden Grove

Members of the Women's Civic Club of Garden Grove sewed handmade masks, which were donated to the participants of the H. Louis Lake Senior Center's home delivery meal program.