Greetings!
Do you remember a time when you nurtured a seed and watched it grow, such as a tiny plant, an intention, or a hope for a better future?
For John O’Connell High School student Devin (above, middle), this summer has been a time of nurturing many seeds. As a participant in CUESA’s Foodwise Teens Fellowship program, he started his first paid job and took on new responsibilities, he worked alongside other students to bring the school garden back to life, and he grew food for himself and his community.
"I feel proud of getting a job, since this is my first one," says Devin. "I’m proud I actually had the drive to do something and find a community. I have gained the knowledge of growing our food and how much time it takes. The labor and the fun but also the feeling when something fails that you’ve spent weeks on, and also the joy of seeing one seed sprout. Knowing the effort that goes behind my food, I appreciate it more."
These are the experiences—the seeds—that you nurture when you support CUESA’s education programs. And in these challenging times, these direct experiences with fresh food, nature, and community are more needed than ever.
You have an opportunity to make a difference. We are in the final stretch of our August Back to School, Back to the Farmers Market fundraising campaign, and we have a second matching grant challenge, thanks to three generous anonymous donors.
Your donation makes CUESA's Foodwise Teens and Foodwise Kids programs FREE for thousands of SFUSD students in our community. As in-person learning begins this fall, help us make food education available to kids who are hungry for real-life experiences and connection. Will you donate to help us meet our $4,000 match goal by August 31?
