02 Aug 2011

Pescadero Grown! Tokens and CalFresh debut at market

To help fill the gap and get more farm-direct produce into the hands of our low income neighbors, Puente and many Friends of Pescadero Grown! have partnered to establish a token matching program for  CalFresh, WIC  and other  low income participants that reside in Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar,and San Gregorio.

Pescadero Grown Tokens may be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the Pescadero Grown Certified Community Farmers’ Market. They work just like cash. If you receive WIC, CalFresh (food stamps) or your income is below the 133% FPL, Puente will match a maximum of $10 worth of your purchases each week if you enroll in the program.

Family Size 

 

 Maximum 

Monthly Income

133% FPL

 
1 

 

 $1,207 

 
2 

 

 $1,631 

 
3 

 

 $2,054 

 
4 

 

 $2,478 

 
5 

 

 $2,901 

 

For more information about the program, click here:  Pescadero Grown! Token Program. To enroll in the program, contact Lorena Vargas at 650.879.1691 ext 116.

To help provide fresh fruits and vegetables for your neighbors, join Friends of Pescadero Grown!

 

17 Jul 2011

Team Backpack kicks into final stretch with July 31 deadline approaching

Hazel, Maya and Sarah collect supplies for B'nai Mitzvot project

Puente’s deadline for Team Backpack is rapidly approaching on July 31. The campaign  is kicking into its final stretch, collecting backpack and school supplies to create backpacks for 200 Pescadero and La Honda students.

Three San Francisco seventh graders, Hazel Olson-Dorf, Maya Rich, and Sarah Weihl, are part of Puente’s Team Backpack, collecting school supplies and donations from their communities. They are doing this project as part of the rituals related to becoming Bat Mitzvah in the Jewish tradition. They collected supplies from their school community, friends and relatives, as well as through Congregation Sha’ar Zahav. With the donated cash, they bought supplies at Target.

Puente volunteers of the year, Angela and Courtney Cunneen,  are collecting supplies for their third year and will be receiving supplies at the Coastside Farmer’s Market in Pacifica on Wednesday, July 27 from 230-630 PM.

Volunteers from First Congregational Church of Benicia, Peninsula Metropolitan Community Church, Congregational Church of San Mateo, and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory are also collecting supplies for the drive.

Click here for Team Backpack list of supplies needed

 

 

Drop-Off Locations:

Half Moon Bay:  Coastside Farmers Market, Saturdays 9AM – 1 PM: July 23 & July 30

Studio 4 Pilates, 213 San Mateo Road (650) 726-7200

Pacifica: Coastside Farmers Market, Wednesday, July 27: 230-630PM

Pescadero:  Pescadero Grown! Certified Community Farmer’s Market, Thursdays 5-8PM

Puente Resource Center, 620 North Street (650) 879-1691 (please call for hours)

Cash Donations: Payable to Puente, PO Box 554, Pescadero, CA  94060

08 Jul 2011

Puente partners with Pie Ranch for Homeslice

Puente continues to expand its summer youth employment programming to include HomeSlice, a partnership with Pie Ranch, that provides an opportunity for young people to learn about food systems, cooking healthy foods, and more. In addition, a story-telling project supported by the California Council for the Humanities and Pescadero community members allows youth to record their stories about their families and food.  Many thanks to Debbie Harris of Pie Ranch, Sally Bachman of Photo4Change.org, and Linda Parnassus of KPDO. Funding for the Project is provided in part by San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board, TomKat Foundation, and individual donors.