Orange County Fair promotion to help Share Our Selves

Wednesday marks the last day of We Care Wednesday, an Orange County Fair promotion where attendees can donate specific items in exchange for free admission and one ride ticket.

Each Wednesday of the fair, which closes Sunday, is dedicated to a different organization.

This week, attendees can donate one school supply item worth at least $5, which will go to Share Our Selves, a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit, according to the O.C. Fair website.

So far, fairgoers have come out to donate nonperishable food items, children’s books and clothes.

Last week’s drive brought in more than 110,000 items of clothing for Goodwill of Orange County, according to a Goodwill news release.

“We Care Wednesday helps those in need while making the fair more affordable for everyone,” Jerome Hoban, O.C. Fair & Event Center president and chief executive, said in a prepared statement. “Nearly 23,000 guests donated and entered the fair [Aug. 1].”

Past recipients include the Children & Families Commission of Orange County and THINK Together, which together received nearly 60,000 new and used books July 25, according to a THINK Together news release.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County received more than 43,000 pounds of food, mostly in canned goods, in four hours during the July 18 We Care Wednesday food drive, said Barbara Wartman, Second Harvest’s marketing and public relations manager.

— Jillian Beck

Twitter: @TheDailyPilot