Who we are

HELP of Ojai was originally founded in 1968, by a collaboration of churches and others in the Ojai Valley. The focus at the time was coordinating volunteer efforts to care for those community members “in need”. As the needs and demographics of the valley have changed over the years, HELP has endeavored to meet the challenges of our diverse population by introducing new ways to help and expand existing programs. HELP of Ojai became a 501(c)(3) in 1974.

Our mission is to fulfill the basic unmet needs of vulnerable Ojai residents. We bring together individual and community resources to provide safety net services to reach those who need it most. We prioritize our help to reach senior citizens, low-income families with minor children, and unhoused individuals.

We emphasize sustainable housing support, healthy food, and healthcare for those we assist. We strive to provide programs and services that improve the quality of life for our clients, and we work to create community dialogue and prepare for emerging social issues and trends.

Through our programs we are able to provide year-round advocacy, healthcare, nutritional support, outreach, and other life-enhancing services to various and diverse populations who would not receive them otherwise.

HELP of Ojai’s enduring goal is to bolster ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances: the isolated senior needing access to food and medical care; the low-income family at risk of being evicted; the homebound senior in need of food. HELP is the only agency in Ojai that meets the needs and more, year after year, thanks in large part to wonderful support from our community.