Karina is a caregiver with a heart of gold. Her journey began in assisted living and later as an in-home support worker for a friend recovering from injury. At the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope, she discovered her gift helping children with autism, patiently guiding them to build new skills and encouraging parents through her consistent care.

Now, Karina has found a new calling at the Double R Ranch, where she nurtures the animals with the same compassion she once gave her students. With eagerness, she has thrown herself into learning the intricacies of animal care. “I’m born and raised in Orange County, so to me, this is all new,” she shares. Yet she now confidently distinguishes different kinds of hay, explaining “Orchard is fatter…Bermuda is thinner…and Alfalfa has a lot of nutrition with what I like to call, flowers and buds.” From supporting vulnerable people to tending the ranch, Karina’s story is one of steady growth, compassion, and an ever-expanding capacity to care.