We started our charity-of-the-month program over 3 years ago, and since then you’ve donated well over $10K to dozens of different charities in town in many different areas.
This year, we’re narrowing how we choose our charities a bit. I think we can increase the positive change we effect, if we focus our energy on one issue and devote our efforts to it. Our passion here, of course, is reforming the food system: for our health, the sustainability of the environment, to build better communities, and food justice (i.e., to increase access to real food for everybody).
So, we’re going to focus now on organizations which are working to improve and/or revolutionize our food systems in San Diego. Additionally, we’ll keep each charity longer, with the intent of raising thousands of dollars for each project rather than hundreds. In this way, we hope to really make a difference, sooner rather than later, in improving the food system that serves all of us.
Or, I should say, we hope to help you make a difference, since of course it’s all of you who are giving more than you have to, to help make our community better.
Our first charity is San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project. We’ve worked with them before, particularly on Growing Places, and they are doing a lot to improve things at the community level, particularly with community education. Everything from workshops, to the Seeds @ City community college urban farm, to an inspiring film series, they are constantly applying energy for positive change.
I think one of things that particularly moves me about San Diego Roots is that everything they do is fun. In a situation where the reality of 99.9% of food is terribly depressing, it’s so important for me to be constantly reminded that food, and community, done right, is an opportunity for enormous joy. I hope that by working to help them with their mission, we can create more joy for everyone in San Diego.
Thanks, as always, for letting us coordinate this charitable giving that you do. It is a true privilege.
Jay + All,
you continually amaze and inspire me. What a great cycle of living we are in! As a volunteer with Roots, I amalways singing your praises as the threshold of community activism that a business can be, as a community member, I am in awe of your total passion and radness, and excited about the standards you are setting. As a food lover, well I’m just all-over stoked. Thank you thank you thank you for all that you have done to transform the way we eat, think and act in this excellent city. And thank you for continually supporting Roots, it feels so good to have your back and that you have ours. I’m looking forward to future events, fun times and conversations.
With heart, em