Our CSA program is unique because we donate a percentage of our CSA shares to local organizations working with at-risk populations. It’s another way for us to include families that may not have access to this community’s bounty of organic food. This year's recipients are YWCA Fairgrounds Children's Center, River Street Shelter and Pioneer House, Transition House, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, and The Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz.
Learn more about the CSA Fund.
Your gift to our CSA Fund reaches out beyond our farm to families throughout Santa Cruz. Click above on the "Support our CSA Fund " line and type "CSA Fund " in the purpose line of the donate form. THANKS!
Feed Two Birds With One Worm
Your contribution will support
- The Homeless Garden Project job training program and
- Free shares to low income families and individuals
This year Homeless Garden Project will donate shares to:
The YWCA Children's Center (Fairgrounds site) is a non-profit, state funded childcare center serving low income children and families in the Pajaro Valley who work, attend school, or receive training. The center is open from 6:30 am - 6 pm and provides two full meals and a snack five days a week. Fresh produce is a centerpiece of the meal plan and a focus on providing fresh, whole grain, minimally processed foods.
“Not only will the nutritious vegetables and fruits be a great addition to our meals, we will be able to share the story of the garden with children and families and foster a deeper understanding between the groups.” Amy Rather Teacher/Site supervisor at YWCA--Fairgrounds.
The River Street Shelter and Pioneer House are programs of the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center. The River Street Shelter provides overnight beds, dinner, breakfast, counseling and hygiene facilities for people 365 days a year. It is a safe, supportive and nurturing environment that encourages persons to work and to seek mental health support when needed for both newly homeless persons as well as persons who have longer term homelessness issues.
The Pioneer House is a day treatment facility for persons who have both addiction and mental health issues. Pioneer House provides individual and group counseling. Participants attend 12-step recovery meetings and participate in many other outings and activities. Pioneer House offers breakfast and lunch to its participants 7 days a week.
Transition House (T-House) is a community-based, hospital diversion program. Their mission is to offer individuals an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. T-House provides a warm, nurturing, safe, and loving environment, within which each person has the space to heal and grow. Participants are offered a community-based, collaborative environment as a backdrop for dealing with their crises and regaining wellness. T-House provides folks with a menu of healing and wellness options such as an opportunity to plan, prepare, and eat healthy, nourishing, satisfying meals.
The Hospice Caring Project provides expert medical treatment and compassionate support to individuals and families facing life-threatening illness. The Hospice will receive weekly bouquets of harvested flowers from the Project to distribute among their 80 patients and their families.
Our goal is to provide 25 Scholarship Shares, distributed among the above organizations. Through your past contributions, HGP has donated CSA shares to the following organizations: Walnut Avenue Women’s Center, Live Oak Family Resource Center, Homeless Community Resource Center, New Horizons School, Santa Cruz AIDS Project, St. Francis Kitchen, and La Familia Center; as well as directly to low-income families in our community
