ENCINITAS — A grassroots coalition of Encinitas-based nonprofits has partnered to address critical needs such as senior care, homelessness prevention, food security and other issues facing local residents.
The distribution of 1,600 community-supported agriculture boxes is one example of an early success for Encinitas Cares. The project involved a collaboration between a group dedicated to reducing food waste and another that seeks to alleviate food insecurity, according to a news release.
John Van Cleef, founder of Encinitas Cares and CEO of Community Resource Center, said in the release that the aim of the coalition is to bring such groups together to maximize the impact of complementary organizations and to “show up for the community together.”
Founding members of Encinitas Cares include Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Coastal Roots Farm, Community Resource Center, Encinitas Lions Club, Healthy Day Partners, Light Church, ProduceGood, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, San Dieguito Ministerial Association, San Dieguito United Methodist Church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and the YMCA of San Diego County.
ProduceGood and Healthy Day Partners collaborated on the CSA box project, which was made possible by a grant from the Cushman Foundation.
Alexandra White, executive director of ProduceGood, told The Coast News the collaboration, as well as the broader Encinitas Cares project, reflects a “spirit of coming together and saying, ‘Hey, we’re all doing different things, but it takes all these things to make a community strong.’”
“All of the services that are being offered by the organizations getting to know each other better, it just helps us serve the community because we’re collectively advocating for all of the services that are benefiting the community of Encinitas,” White said.
She added that the CSA box project harkened back to Encinitas’ agricultural roots.
Each box was filled with food from a variety of sources. Some had been recovered by ProduceGood’s team from grocery stores, farmers markets or even backyard gardens and orchards. Other food came from Healthy Day Partners’ farms.
The boxes were then distributed to residents who could benefit from the fresh produce.
“I think food is one of those things that really holds us together when we break bread,” White said. “That act – in and of itself – as a way to come together with others. So I feel really fortunate to be in that space, but I really appreciate these other organizations, who can address a lot of the needs that we’re not addressing.”
