Volunteers Plant Vegetable Garden at LSS’ Mi Casa Facility in Concord
The dirt and shovels were flying on June 26 when eight volunteers from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fremont joined two staffers from LSS headquarters in Concord and another volunteer to plant vegetables at Mi Casa, LSS' transitional and supportive housing facility in Concord for former foster and transitional age youth.
Many thanks to Pastor David M. Sauer, Rollo and Penny Dowling, Sheri Fraga, John Webb, Daryl Stemm, Rod West and Heather Hanneman from Prince of Peace, LSS staffers Deborah Kelley and Dawn West, and Dawn's friend Tony Pease for giving up their Saturday to create a garden so that the young people who live at Mi Casa can grow their own fresh produce.
Volunteers showed up with garden tools and pulled weeds, pruned trees and bushes, prepared planter boxes and planted tomatoes, strawberries, watermelons, honeydew melons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, string beans as well as yellow, green and red peppers.
The residents of Mi Casa grew up in the foster care system and had no place to go when they turned 18. LSS provides the love and support they need to learn to be self-sufficient, productive adults. Services for the residents include housing, health care, continuing education, life-skills, financial management and parenting classes, emotional and substance abuse counseling and job assistance, and can continue until a participant turns 24.
Mi Casa is one of seven programs serving homeless former foster youth administered by Lutheran Social Services of Northern California.
The gardening event came about after Prince of Peace contacted LSS to ask if we had any needs that members could volunteer for, and LSS President and CEO Barbara Dröher Kline suggested this project. Lori Becker from Prince of Peace coordinated the project with the church, and Pastor Sauer announced it at Sunday service, advertised it in the church newsletter and posted a sign-up sheet at the church for volunteers.
After the day of hard work, the Prince of Peace volunteers said they would be would be happy to help out again. They understand the importance of helping communities and building relationships through service, and LSS is so grateful for their contribution to the organization, its staff and the residents of Mi Casa.