- Meet Mary -
Born in 1903, Mary McAnena grew up among the emerald splender of Roscommon Ireland.
At age 18 Mary would travel to America as a Nursing student. Once settled in New York she discovered her calling, and lived a lifetime of caring for others. When Mary retired from nursing she moved to California and settled in the city of Orange where she had planned to live out her days.
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A chance encounter with a homeless woman in 1985 would then propel Mary into a new phase of her life. At age 82 she would discover a new purpose and a new passion, feeding folks suffering from food insecurity. Soon there after Mary established Mary's Kitchen as a 501(c) 3 charitable organization in the city or Orange and threw herself into her new work full time.
In 2003 just before she passed away Mary recieved the prestigeous Albert Schweitzer Award of Excellence. She worked at Mary's Kitchen right up to her last day, leading by example she provided for those who needed it until they could provide for themselfs. She was 100 years old.
In 2003 just before she passed away Mary recieved the prestigeous Albert Schweitzer Award of Excellence. She worked at Mary's Kitchen right up to her last day, leading by example she provided for those who needed it until they could provide for themselfs. She was 100 years old.
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Mary McAnena working the stoves at Mary's Kitchen in 2003. She was 100 years old when this picture was taken.
From those early days in 1985 Mary coalesced a roster of key individuals to help her in her mission to feed the hungry. These individuals ranged from city and county appointees, to business liaisons and representatives of private and puplic organizations, both for proffit and nonproffit. From this pool of expertise Mary formed her board of directors and with them made Mary's Kitchen infamous. We still get inquiries from folks in New York who had heard about how good the food was at Mary's Kitchen.
Today you can still find a familiar face or two on the board who have been with Mary's since the beginning.
- Meet Gloria -
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After graduating from University of North Dakota in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Science, Gloria I. Suess a devout Cathlic took a big step and moved to the big smoke, Somewhere California. After raising a family Gloria would pursue a career in real estate. It was during this time that Gloria would develop her proffessional network of contacts and associates. One of these contacts was a woman named Mary McAnenena.
In 1988, after running Mary's Kitchen on her own for a couple of years, Mary recruited Gloria. It soon became apparent that Mary had plans for Gloria.
Driven by a deep sense of compassion and a commitment to making a difference in her community, after Mary's passing in 2003 Gloria took on both rolls of President and CEO of Mary’s Kitchen.
With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and humanitarian work, Gloria has been instrumental in expanding Mary’s Kitchen’s reach and impact across Orange County. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a small grassroots effort into a critical service provider, helping thousands of families and individuals who face food insecurity.
Gloria’s passion for community service is rooted in her belief that everyone deserves dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances.
When the circustances dictated that Mary's Kitchen relocate from the city of Orange to Anaheim in 2022, Gloria took that oportunity and re-imagened what the roll for Mary's Kitchen would be from that point moving forward.
At the helm Gloria re-branded Mary’s Kitchen (a soup kitchen for individuals) as Mary's Kitchen Pantry (a mobile food distribution service for families and communities).
From 2022 to the present Gloria would pioneer the Mary's Kitchen Pantry signature product / service offering, the 'mobile pop-up' an innovative program that brings fresh meals and essential supplies directly to the families in underserved communities.
Her strategic vision has not only enhanced the organization’s operational efficiency but has also forged strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and other nonprofits which help to amplify the mission of Mary’s Kitchen Pantry.
Beyond her role at Mary’s Kitchen Pantry, Gloria is an advocate for broader social issues such as homelessness, poverty alleviation, and community empowerment. Her leadership extends beyond food distribution, focusing on providing holistic support to those in need, including access to shelter, healthcare, and job training resources. Gloria’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others has earned her recognition within the nonprofit sector and the respect of the countless volunteers, donors, and families she works alongside every day.
Through her leadership, Gloria I. Suess continues to make a lasting impact at Mary’s Kitchen Pantry and on the communities it serves, ensuring that the organization remains a beacon of hope for those in need across Southern California.
Driven by a deep sense of compassion and a commitment to making a difference in her community, after Mary's passing in 2003 Gloria took on both rolls of President and CEO of Mary’s Kitchen.
With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and humanitarian work, Gloria has been instrumental in expanding Mary’s Kitchen’s reach and impact across Orange County. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a small grassroots effort into a critical service provider, helping thousands of families and individuals who face food insecurity.
Gloria’s passion for community service is rooted in her belief that everyone deserves dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances.
When the circustances dictated that Mary's Kitchen relocate from the city of Orange to Anaheim in 2022, Gloria took that oportunity and re-imagened what the roll for Mary's Kitchen would be from that point moving forward.
At the helm Gloria re-branded Mary’s Kitchen (a soup kitchen for individuals) as Mary's Kitchen Pantry (a mobile food distribution service for families and communities).
From 2022 to the present Gloria would pioneer the Mary's Kitchen Pantry signature product / service offering, the 'mobile pop-up' an innovative program that brings fresh meals and essential supplies directly to the families in underserved communities.
Her strategic vision has not only enhanced the organization’s operational efficiency but has also forged strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and other nonprofits which help to amplify the mission of Mary’s Kitchen Pantry.
Beyond her role at Mary’s Kitchen Pantry, Gloria is an advocate for broader social issues such as homelessness, poverty alleviation, and community empowerment. Her leadership extends beyond food distribution, focusing on providing holistic support to those in need, including access to shelter, healthcare, and job training resources. Gloria’s unwavering dedication to improving the lives of others has earned her recognition within the nonprofit sector and the respect of the countless volunteers, donors, and families she works alongside every day.
Through her leadership, Gloria I. Suess continues to make a lasting impact at Mary’s Kitchen Pantry and on the communities it serves, ensuring that the organization remains a beacon of hope for those in need across Southern California.
- Meet the Board -
MaryBeth Gram
- Treasurer -
Carla Chun
- Member -
Peggy Wilson
- Secretary -
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Rev. Dr. Dayna Kinkade- Member -
Louie Ruhl
- Member -
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Matt McAnenaGreat Grand Son
- Member -
- Meet the volunteers who are making a difference today -
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