While local municipal budgets are easing a bit, the region’s social safety net providers are still overwhelmed by a wave of need amidst flagging revenues.

This week, 37 nonprofits from Orange County got a boost from the philanthropic community with more than $525,000 in grants awarded through the Orange County Community Foundation’s Reach Out OC initiative. Individual grants to nonprofits ranged from $10,000 to $25,000.

“We all know that life hasn’t gotten any easier for the most vulnerable in our community,” said Shelley Hoss, president of the foundation.

Hoss noted that this is the fourth year that the foundation has organized a special community fund drive for nonprofits providing social safety net, health care and veterans services. To date, the effort alone has raised more than $2.5 million.

2012 recipients included:

Safety Net Services

American Family Housing

Anaheim Interfaith Shelter

Colette’s Children’s Home

Families Forward

Family Assistance Ministries

Friendship Shelter

Human Options

Illumination Foundation

Interval House

Laura’s House

Mercy House Living Centers

Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter

Pathways of Hope

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County

Serving People in Need

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen

South County Outreach

Southwest Minority Economic Development Association

Thomas House Temporary Shelter

We Care of Los Alamitos

WISEPlace

Women’s Transitional Living Center

Health Care

Access OC

Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County

Hurtt Family Health Clinic

Laguna Beach Community Clinic

Latino Health Access

Lestonnac Free Clinic

Livingstone Community Development Corporation

Serve the People

Share Our Selves

The Gary Center

Veterans Services

Disabled Veterans Assistance Foundation

J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center

Veterans First

Women Helping Women/Men2Work

Working Wardrobes

— NORBERTO SANTANA JR.

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