They are goods to go

They were going to “cram the cruiser,” but instead they ended up “tricking out the trolley.”

Women Looking Forward, a subgroup of the Orange County United Way, jammed the back half of a holiday-themed trolley with toys, clothes, diapers and blankets at the organization’s headquarters Friday in Irvine, then drove the whole thing over to Costa Mesa-based charity Share Our Selves.

The large trolley was donated for the occasion by the O.C. Cruiser company, which had originally planned to send over the VW bus for which the business is named. Not slowed down by the change of wheels, they filled the truck and made a mass donation to the nonprofit group.

“Any way we can help give back to the community, we’re there,” said the cruiser company’s owner, Tom Stewart.

The pile of goods was more important than ever in hard times like these, Share Our Selves spokeswoman Elizabeth Evans said.

“It’s quite a big donation,” she said. “Our whole staff came out and helped them unload it. We all made one big assembly line.”

And who are the Women Looking Forward? They’re a group of 140 donors who give $1,000 each to support families every year, according to United Way spokeswoman Kristin Bush. They also volunteer regularly with United Way’s partners in the area.

“These are tough times for many families,” said Jennifer Cagle, chairwoman of the group. “By sharing our time and treasures with others, we can help make the holidays that much brighter for those less fortunate.”

Demand for services at the nonprofit focused on the needy has spiked upward, Evans said.

Forty percent more people have asked for food this fall than the same time last year, she added.

On the bright side, she said, people are donating to fill those needs.

“Our response from the community is increasing, and donations to our back door have been wonderful,” she said.

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at michael.alexander@latimes. com.