Andrew was just four years old when he found out he had the same genetic heart condition that took his mother’s life a year before. For Andrew’s dad, a series of heartbreaking events began to take its toll. After years of moving from place to place, Andrew’s open heart surgery, including insertion of a pacemaker at 10 years old, coupled with a failed relationship

with Andrew’s step mom, his dad stopped taking him to his doctor’s appointments. At 13, Andrew was removed from his dad’s care by Child Protective Services and placed into foster care.

Soon after, Andrew ended up in the care of his aunt. He recalls what it was like after his dad and after foster care, “Things totally changed. I didn’t have to worry about electricity being turned off. I didn’t have to worry about where I was going to sleep or what I would eat the next day. It was so different and I was so relieved.”

During his freshman year at Johansen High School Andrew was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent major surgery; however, he also found great interest in his Intro to Business class and the Future Business Leaders of America Club (FBLA). Despite great challenges, life was getting better.

In the winter of 2012, Andrew’s FBLA Club Advisor, Dory Griffin, was approached by Center for Human Services staff, Rhonda Dahlgren, to participate in a new project called

Harvesting Futures. The goal of Harvesting Futures is to engage youth in positive youth development and increase access to fresh produce for low income communities. “I believe my purpose is to help connect what our students are learning in school to the real world,” shared Ms. Griffin. “Harvesting Futures fit with a real love and passion I have to feed the hungry and it gives students hands on practice in the work place. It’s a different kind of work place but it’s still very practical.”

Now 17 and a senior at Johansen High School, Andrew had this to say about Harvesting Futures, “When I first heard of the project I thought, let’s do it! I was excited. Anything that we can do to give back to the community we should do. We know how hard it can be for families.”

Ms. Griffin, Andrew and other students from Johansen have participated in two harvest events. They gleaned fruit from the yards of private residences and then delivered it to local food banks. Both Andrew and Ms. Griffin agree this experience is building leadership skills and increasing their understanding of business. It also enhances their ability to work with different kinds of people and underscores the importance of giving back to the community. As Andrew stated, “It’s a life class.”

Although Andrew is leaving for San Francisco City College in June, he and Ms. Griffin are looking forward to continuing to participate in Harvesting Futures.

Andrew says, “This is just the beginning of my journey. Life will throw me more challenges but I say bring it on.” His dream job? To run a business.

HARVESTING FUTURES ISSUEWe’re picking for more fruitful lives

ISSUE 3 - 2011/2012

factsin the number of people applying for food stamps since 2007.

there has been a 100% increase

low income adults were food insecure in 2009.

44,000 HUNDREDS

of commercial crops are not harvested and left behind because they are not ripe.

an estimated

25%of young adults struggle to become self-sufficient.

Stanislaus County

OUR Mission To change lives and build futures through programs that strengthen and support youth and families.

(209) 526-1476 | www.centerforhumanservices.org

Board of TrusteesBoard of Directors

Letter from the Executive Director

Sarah GroverBoard Chair

Jay CaseyIn-Kind, Chair

Tammy CruiseEvents, Chair

George BeachJosh BowerGeoff BransonSheila CarrollBrad DeLaCruzDianne GagosLisa GotelliGina MachadoMarian PartenheimerShanelle Wilson

Patti ReederPresident

Bruce McClellanPresident Elect

Wendy PratherTreasurer

Theresa HamiltonSecretary

Carin Sarkis Past President

Sarah Birmingham, J.D.Cheryl Carmichael, Ph.D.Zach De GoughMark Goss, J.D.Dirk HoekJosé Limon, M.D.Mark LoeserPat Logan Jane McAllister, J.D.Tom SolomonWill Wong

Parent Resource Center (PRC) is very grateful to have fresh, locally grown produce to share with our client families. Having the fresh produce available supports our efforts to distribute healthy food while providing education about healthy food choices. Harvesting Futures is a fabulous program that benefits all who participate. PRC is proud to be a part of it!

~ Leah Silvestre, Executive Director - Parent Resource Center

Last year, it was our great pleasure to participate in the Valley Apprentice Competition. Through that experience and the hard work and dedication of our Valley Apprentice Team, Harvesting Futures was born.

Harvesting Futures is a gleaning project focused on youth development and entrepreneurship. The project embraces the concept of Community Youth Development - youth and adults working together to create social change. The purpose of the project is two-fold:

1) To engage youth in their community by developing life skills, job skills and self-sufficiency.

2) To increase use of and access to fresh produce for low income populations in our community.

There’s an increasing need in our community to feed the hungry and for access to fresh produce. At the same time, hundreds of youth struggle to become productive, self-sufficient and contributing citizens. In response, this winter we launched a pilot project targeting backyard growers with citrus trees in collaboration with two Modesto neighborhood associations, La Loma Neighborhood Association and College Area Neighborhood Association. Together, we harvested over 2,600 lbs of fresh fruit and delivered it to area food banks.

CHS is excited about the opportunities we were able to provide over the winter for youth and adults in our community to learn together and give back to those in need. Also, we are grateful for the new partnerships and relationships built through this experience, some of which you’ll read about in this issue of Center Line. Sincerely,

www.centerforhumanservices.org | (209) 526-1476

Center for Human Services is excited to have Ann Endsley and Green’s Market as a community partner in our Harvesting Futures project. May, 2012 marks the beginning of our entrepreneurship workshop series. Ann and her very talented employees will be sharing their food and business expertise with program staff and, most importantly, our young volunteers. “It is a great benefit to our company and to the community to have these young people harvest these fruits and vegetables. By gleaning produce they are providing a service to the community and helping provide food to the hungry. Our company hopes to involve these young adults in all aspects of food production in our entrepreneurship workshop series – from the cleaning and storing of the produce, through the production of a variety of products, helping design labels and packaging and also assisting with the marketing,” shared Ann. CHS hopes that through this partnership, the young people participating as volunteers in Harvesting Futures will have tremendous opportunities, the kind of opportunities they may not have had otherwise.

“My sincere hope is that we (and others in the community) can have these young people walk with us and learn with us as we build this project together,” shared Ann. “What could possibly be more important than sharing what we have and what we know with our brothers and sisters who aren’t as fortunate? We all need each other and the rewards for both are immeasurable.”

Partner Profile - Ann Endsley and Greens Market

Healthy Start Family Resource Center at Orville Wright Elementary School is very excited about the new partnership with CHS and Harvesting Futures! Families from the Airport Neighborhood are already benefiting from these great efforts and are even more excited that they have a resource for healthy accessible fruits! Thank you CHS!

~ Janet Nunez-Pineda, Administrator of Student and Family Support Services - Healthy Start

Our First Harvest

When CHS asked if West Modesto/King Kennedy Neighborhood Collaborative (WMKKNC) could use some fresh fruit from their first harvest for residents in West Modesto, we were delighted and deeply appreciative. Carol Collins, Program Manager - WMKKNC

For more about Harvesting Futures, or to volunteer, call Center for Human Services at 526-1476or visit our webpage at www.centerforhumanservices.org

(209) 526-1476 | www.centerforhumanservices.org

1700 McHenry Village Way, Suite 11Modesto, CA 95350

PARTNER AGENCY

Center for Human Services acknowledges the support of our funding partners who underwrite, in part, the quality services provided to children and families. Partners include but are not limited to: Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, Children and Families Commission, Community Services Agency, Probation, United Way, various school districts, foundations, Federal and State agencies. We are grateful to all of our funders for fostering the health and well-being of our communities through their support of Center for Human Services’ shelter, prevention, intervention, & treatment services.

For more information on Center for Human Services, Center Line sponsorship opportunitiesand/or placement of your ad, please contact Kate Trompe�er at

ktrompe�er@centerforhumanservices.org or 209.526.1476

UnderwritersGallo Family WineryPrime Shine Car WashTrusteesMemorial Medical CenterParks Printing

Sponsors Honorary Chairs

BenefactorsCSU StanislausG-3 EnterprisesOak Valley Community BankSenator Tom Berryhill, District 14

Event SponsorsAmerican ChevroletFarmers & Merchants Bank�e Modesto Bee

Décor SponsorsBank of Ag & CommerceCollins Electric CompanyJ.S. WestMocse Federal Credit UnionPorticoWarden’s O�ce Supply

George & Susan BeachNick & Els BlomDale & Kirstie Boye�Robert J. Cardoza FamilySheila CarrollDan & Denise CostaGrant & Mimme�e DavisElvio & Susan FilippiEd & Bertha FitzpatrickNorma Foster-MaddyJoseph & Marilyn FranziaLou & Kenni Friedman

Congratulations to the Ma� and Barbara Bruno Family, recipients of Center for Human Services’ Children First Distinguished Leadership Award!

Your innovative leadership, philanthropy and volunteerism is an example to us all. �ank you!

Dianne GagosJason & Tracy GordoDennis & Elizabeth LaniganDuke & Paula Le�erMary Lyons FamilyDan & Corinne MachadoGarrad & Dallas MarshRick & Cheryl MichelSco� & Amanda NealJohn & Bonnie PhillipsJim & Chris ReedRichard & Andrea SwansonNiniv & Rossanna Tamimi

www.centerforhumanservices.org | (209) 526-1476