Meet the Crew - Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson, Family Promise’s Shower Trailer Technician, just turned 75 and is “still recovering from the shock.” A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Bill and his wife Susan have lived in Orange for 18 years. They also have two adult children who live in California. Bill and Susan have been involved with Family Promise of Orange County since the first exploratory meeting in Summer 2008. As members of Church of the Foothills, they served as regular overnight volunteer hosts there until COVID paused the Emergency Shelter host rotation last year. They intend to return to that role when the church rotation resumes.

In late 2019, because of a generous gift to the organization, Family Promise of Orange County was able to purchase a portable shower trailer to complement the Emergency Shelter Program and to provide the families staying at congregations with access to hot showers. Unfortunately, the new shower trailer arrived without any instructions and proved to be an operational mystery to the staff and other volunteers. Bill’s natural mechanical aptitude and engineering degree allowed him to master its operation and write a detailed manual for its use. Recognizing his talents, Family Promise decided to hire Bill as a part-time staff member. Currently you’ll find Bill and the shower trailer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Tustin on Sundays, where the shower trailer is currently providing showers to those in need in the local community.

Throughout the pandemic, Bill has also served as the keeper of the Family Promise Ford F-250 truck, and has assisted in moving donated food, furniture, loads of diapers and any other resources the staff can locate. He also serves as the unofficial “fix-it guy” at the office and two transitional houses, which he finds very fun. On any given day, you’ll probably find him out riding his bicycle around Orange County.