Love Thy College Town

Since you became a college student, when was the last time you actually did something for the city that has adopted you while you pursue a higher degree of education?

If your answer was “never” and you are currently attending UC Santa Cruz, then you’re in luck, because today I’ve got the best proposition for you—yes, you.

Why not volunteer for the Homeless Garden Project?

This is one way of getting your hands dirty while still showing love to the community. There are countless ways of showing some love for your college town, but Banana Slugs—this is one good organization you will want to be a part of.

Check out all the different ways you can get involved with this organization:

Community Supported Agriculture: Pay one flat rate, for 5 whole months (end of may-end of October) to get a big basket of produce and a bouquet of flowers for $23 if it’s already harvest for you; $19 if you harvest it yourself. Kelly Mercer, Volunteer Coordinator at the Homeless Garden Project says, “This is a very cool aspect of the program where you get to engage and be part of the farm, you get to pick the crops yourself. It’s practically still alive when you’re putting it in your body, and your body appreciates that. And so, it’s a really cool element of our program to be able to have people connect to their food in that way.”

 Sponsor Food Donations to Low Income Families: If you feel like you don’t have enough time to spend at the farm, but still wish to contribute, you can donate money to the sponsorships shares and Homeless Garden Project send shares and produce to Women’s Crisis Support, Santa Cruz AIDS Project, River Street Shelter, and Independent Living Program for kids aging out of the foster care system. 

Winter Store: Add a little green to your holiday giving! Every year, during the Winter Season, HGP opens a temporary location in Downtown Santa Cruz. The Homeless Garden Project Winter Store at Cooper Plaza by O’Neill, Suite 100 G, open seven days a week from 10am till 8PM until Monday, December 24^th, Christmas’ Eve. Succulent reeds, dried flower reeds, teas, baking mixes, vinegars, potpourris, soy lavender candles, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Volunteer at the Kitchen: Channel your inner chef as you prepare meals for the hungry and weary that have been out on the field all day. If you love cooking, then why not share it with your community? Cook lunches for the volunteers, trainees, and mentors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at noon.

While I admit I strongly consider myself a Los Angeles girl, there is something terribly fascinating and mystical about this land that keeps me begging for more. I may consider myself a resident of the Los Angeles County, but I have a despairing faith for the city of Santa Cruz. I care about its prospect, its future, and what is best for this community, and not just the welfare of UC students currently residing in the Santa Cruz County.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Homeless Garden Project, email Kelly at kellym@homelessgardenproject.org. This is one great opportunity to fulfill the number one commandment of college students: Love Thy College Town.