project680.org

We are very excited about the Project 680 Community Bike Ride, and we want to invite you and your friends to join us. Even if you haven’t been on a bike for 25+ years, you can do this family-friendly ride, and raise some money for shoes for homeless students in the process.

The Ride: On Saturday, 11/07/09 at 11am, we will ride from Hagan Park in Rancho Cordova to River Bend Park (next to bridge). The entire ride along the paved American River trail will take 15-20 at the most. Riders can go at their own pace and enjoy the company of friends, family, co-workers and even a “Riding for Shoes” Team if you put one together (people at the office, a group of friends, your entire family, church or business maybe).

This is a short bike ride and we welcome all ages and backgrounds. We also welcome folks to meet us at River Bend Park if they wish to not bike at all.

Money Stuff: We suggest a $5.00 donation per rider or a $10 donation for households. You can offer more if you’d like. Riders are encouraged also to get sponsored to ride by family, friends, or co-workers. Involving the people you know and inviting them to participate is a great way to raise support for more shoes. You are also invited to put together a “Riding for Shoes” team for your business, organization or with a group of friends. Riders are welcome to find other creative ways to raise money too and then bring anything you’ve raised on the day of the community ride (whether that’s getting sponsored, selling something on Craigslist, doing a lemonade stand, garage sale, etc…). Our goal is to raise $1,500 during the Project 680 Shoe Drive in order to make 100 pairs of brand new shoes available to local homeless students.

Details: We’ll meet in the parking lot of Hagan Park in Rancho Cordova at 2197 Chase Drive (in the FREE parking lot next to Cordova High School). Come at 10:15am if you’d like some free coffee, orange juice and snacks. Bring a sack lunch if you’d like because we’ll hang out at the park for a while when we get there. When we’re done, we’ll head back to the parking lot at Hagan Park.

This is going to be great fun and a fantastic and creative way to get shoes on the feet of local homeless students. 100% of proceeds will go directly to shoes for homeless students. We accept cash, checks, and even Payless Shoe Source gift cards. Call 916-595-3735 or email info@project680.org for details.

See our Shoe Drive / Bike Ride video on YouTube.

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Zachary Andrews played basketball and football at Cordova High School through 2003. He went on to play basketball for Yuba College, Bradley University, and now professionally in Europe.  Zach’s accomplishments on the court are impressive indeed, and even more illustrious when considering what he had to overcome. Mr. Andrews had a difficult childhood and knew firsthand the turmoil of the foster care system and also what it was like to be a homeless “couch surfer” during his teen years. Zach had a very challenging upbringing, but he is not a statistic ending in despair and hopelessness. He made it.

The following interview took place in September 2009 over email between Ryan Lundquist of Project 680 and Mr. Zachary Andrews.

RL:  Where did you grow up, and when did you come to Rancho Cordova?
Zach:  I was born in Oakland and the way I ended up in Rancho Cordova was I was sent to a foster home.

RL:  What year did you graduate Cordova High School?
Zach:  I graduated Cordova High in 2003.

RL:  When did you start playing basketball, and did you ever imagine you’d be playing professionally?
Zach:  Believe it or not, I actually started playing basketball late, which was 7^th grade. I was a troubled child growing up with no one who cared about me, so I didn’t care too much about myself. I didn’t feel wanted in any way. I didn’t feel nor did I know what love was. So finally something caught my eye which led me to my path to do well. I never imagined I’d be playing professionally. It is a real blessing to travel the world and earn a living.

RL:  What was your living situation like during High School? 
Zach:  My living situation during High School was tough. I was going back and forth from my home to friends’ houses, and eventually it was just going to friends’ houses. I shared clothes with my friends – everything except shoes, but shared underwear, shorts, jeans, just so I could fit in at school. It was very tough for me because I had siblings I wanted to take care of, but could not because I could not take care of myself. The friends I lived with I consider my family very highly because they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

RL:  What was it like to be “couch surfing” as a teenager? How did that impact you?
Zach:  It was hard for me to come out and tell people I was going home. The only people that really knew were my friends and the football coaches. The coaches [knew] because I could not afford to pay for cleats or jerseys. So that was very hard because I did not want to share that with them. I was scared I would have to move.

RL:  What encouraged you to an athletic career? Was there a particular person or experience?
Zach:  I never was encouraged to pursue an athletic career because I felt I wasn’t good enough. I honestly didn’t plan to go to college until a junior college coach, the only coach that saw my potential, asked me to come play for him. This was shocking to me because I was not advertised at all like that, so there was something that would not let me give up when I wanted to, which got me a scholarship to Bradley University.

RL:  What was it like to help lead your college team at Bradley University to the Sweet 16?
Zach:  It was like an unbelievable dream that you could not wake up from. And to be a part of that Sweet 16 experience – I don’t think any other words can describe what it felt like to lead a team to the Sweet 16 that had not been in years. And the guys that I shared it with made it worth the training and dedication.

RL:  How would you like to apply your B.A. degree in Theatre Arts?
Zach:  I would love to apply my B.A. degree in Theatre Arts by doing movies on the big screen with huge actors one day. But until then I’m going to see how far I can go with playing basketball. But movies is my next goal I plan to accomplish.

RL:  So many kids in similar situations don’t make it. What made you different? How were you able to overcome some of the challenges you faced?
Zach:  I believe it is the people you choose to surround yourself with that allow you to choose your path and overcome challenges, when it comes to being a statistic in the environment we are given in similar situations as mine.

RL:  Is it true that you can do back flips?
Zach:  LOL. Yes, it is true I can do back flips.

RL NOTE:  Zach is 6’8″ by the way.

RL:  What types of things did the office of the District Liaison for Homeless Services do for you during High School?
Zach:  They cater to all of us in any way they can. I was in need of a new book bag (which I still have I believe), and could not afford a yearbook every year, among other school materials. And if I just wanted to talk, her and her staff would make the day even better by spending time with us even it if was for a minute or two.

RL:  How has your background shaped you?
Zach:  My background shaped me to appreciate myself and others more. And understand that the world is not always after you – it only prepares you. So in my words it is not about what you were, it is about what you’re going to become if you believe and don’t give up. There is always going to be someone that loves and cares about you no matter what your situation is or how you were raised.

RL:  What advice would you offer to homeless kids?
Zach:  My advice I would offer homeless children would be to stay strong through the roughest and toughest times. There will be times when you want to give up, and that time is the worst because everything negative seems to come out of nowhere and sit on your shoulders, which will leave you feeling like you have no one. And that’s when it counts the most to be the strongest and believe in yourself if nobody will.

RL:  Why do you think some homeless kids lose hope?
Zach:  It’s simple, we “homeless children” lose hope because the love and motivation we want is not given, but all the stress of thinking everything will be okay when it is not is [given]. Also, the motivation and love we have for ourselves is not enough and we search for it at close friends’ homes, school, and anywhere we can to feel wanted – to escape our living situation.

RL:  In our efforts to reach out to local students who might be in a similar situation you were in, what advice do you have for us?
Zach:  Advice I have for you when it comes to your efforts to reach out to us is stay consistent, understanding, and concerned because it shows us that you truly care about us and our needs as a person. And doing so allows it to be easier to open up to you and how we feel – especially if they’re females.

RL:  Where do you think you’d be right now if you didn’t have a supportive coach, teachers, loving siblings and friends (and their families) to help you out during High School?
Zach:  If I did not have them believing in me, there is a possibility I would have had children at an early age, dropped out of High School. Selling drugs to get money to raise money for my child. Maybe in and out of jail.

RL:  Where do you see yourself doing in the next ten years?
Zach:   In the next ten years I see myself married with a gorgeous wife and child, financially stable, in the NBA, and pursuing my movie role in a summer blockbuster film.

We know Mr. Andrews is very busy playing basketball in Europe, and we appreciate the time he gave for an interview with Project 680, as well as his openness. What did you think? Does anything he said stand out to you? Comments are welcome.

photo credit: Bradley University Website

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There are many ways to partner with us as we endeavor to raise funds to purchase 100 pairs of brand new shoes for homeless students in the FCUSD. And now there is yet one more opportunity to support the Project 680 Shoe Drive. We are very excited to partner with www.BottlecapMagnets.com to offer some original Project 680 bottle cap magnets to the community. These are perfect for the fridge, office or even a gift, and they’ll be available in a matter of weeks for as long as supplies last. We will soon unveil more details about these magnets, what they’ll look like, how to get one, as well as many other creative ways to be involved in the Shoe Drive. For now we wanted you to be in “the know” about this latest development. Woo-hoo!!!
 
To learn more about Bottlecap Magnets, please visit www.BottlecapMagnets.com or their Facebook Fan Page

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Sometimes it’s easy to feel disconnected from the reality of homelessness. When we hear the word “homeless”, it’s easy to think of tents, tattered clothing, and the Salvation Army in Downtown Sacramento. But there’s a different face for homelessness in Rancho Corova & Folsom that doesn’t fit the typical “downtown” profile.

“Homeless” is defined as “living in an unstable environment”. There are 783 students in the FCUSD that are documented by the school district as “homeless”. These kids live in places like motels, without a parent or legal guardian, in vehicles, in houses without utilities, and sometimes actually on the streets or in other unstable situations. 

These young people are not in some random far-away city or location, but right in our own neighborhoods. We see them walking to school, riding bikes down Folsom Blvd, playing with the kids next door, sitting in traffic next to us, and shopping for groceries at the store. 

We know it’s a bit shocking to consider the number “783″. It can even feel overwhelming to the point where we don’t know where to start, or even how to feel about the whole thing. What if we could begin to be a part of the solution though? What if we could spend a few minutes here and there as a community to do something about this very local issue?

Project 680 is all about learning to respond in practical ways that make sense for homeless students and our busy lives. Our goal is to team up with local residents and do simple things that make a difference. Let’s not attempt to build enormous and time-consuming projects or solve every problem at once, but rather begin to listen to the issues, begin to see homelessness around us, and respond in love.

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The Project 680 community meeting on September 22, 2009 (6:30-8:00pm) will be held at Gold River Carpet One Floors & Home at 11367 Pyrites Way- Suite A Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.

This meeting will be a time to brainstorm how we can best partner with the District Liaison for Homeless Services this Fall for a shoe drive and a boutique. Bring your creative ideas, a desire for teamwork, and consider how you might give a few minutes here and there between now and December 2009 (the shoe drive & boutique will take place then) to help local homeless students get new shoes and even be able to do some shopping at a boutique.

If you are able, let us know if you can make it so that we can plan best. You can visit Facebook HERE (temporary event link until the event is over) or call Ryan at 916-595-3735 or email us at info@project680.org.

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I wanted you to be aware that there are now 783 documented cases of “homeless” students in the FCUSD (up from 680 last year). I just spoke with the District Liaison for Homeless Services and she informed me of the new figure.

Let’s be honest, this is not great news. But at the same time, it is what it is and there is nothing we can change about this figure right now. All we can do is blaze forward with vision and persist in our efforts to support and empower local homeless students. Our courage will not be deflated and we will not be deterred in our quest. Bottom line.

With that being said, be on the lookout for a meeting in mid to late September to discuss our team strategy for the Fall and 09-10 school year. We are currently considering some opportunities for how we will get involved to support the efforts of the District Liaison for Homeless Services and what it might look like for us to meet some practical needs of local students. As information unfolds in coming weeks and months, please consider how you might apply a few minutes here and there to benefit these wonderful students in Folsom and Rancho Cordova.

May we dream big. May we grow in our dynamic as a team. May we learn to respond to student homelessness in relevant and meaningful ways.

Ryan L
Project 680

p.s.  By the way, we won’t change our name to Project 783. We will keep Project 680.

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The Rancho Cordova Post wrote a story about this video and I wanted to do the same. The video is definitely worth a watch (only 2-3 minutes).

Watch CBS Videos Online

The “homeless” students we work with are often not homeless in the classical sense like the man in the video, but they are living in unstable places like motels, in households without a parent or legal guardian, or in other difficult situations. This video is great because it shows how one person can make a difference simply by walking to work and taking a moment to talk with someone. The lawyer didn’t have to start a big program, front a stack of cash, or exhaust himself to do something altruistic. He simply built relationship with a homeless man in the park and the result was a book club that evolved organically over time. 

Let’s keep going everyone and start to dream afresh as the new school year begins. What does it look like for a community to get practical about supporting local homeless students in the FCUSD? What does it look like for busy people like us to find relevant and organic ways to partner with local students? 

What do you think of the video? What stands out to you?

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After our sorting / counting party last night, we are thrilled to announce that together we have collected 2,533 pairs of new underwear for local homeless students. Actually, the Soroptimist Organization dropped off another 70 or so pairs last night after the gathering, so we are North of 2600 pairs now. Furthermore, we know of additional donations that will be coming in over the next two weeks. So in essence, our final number is not yet final.

Thank you everyone for your commitment to this cause and for throwing your time, heart and money into supporting local homeless students in such a practical way. It is touching to see our community come together, especially in an economy where we are watching our money very carefully and pinching every penny. Compassion is not dead.

There will be more details to share in coming weeks and there are definitely more people and groups to thank. It’s time for us to rest for a couple of days and then the passing out will begin early next week.

Way to go!!!!

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Thank you to Cordova Neighborhood Church for being a drop-off location and also for church members who donated generously to the Project 680 Underwear Drive. We appreciate your heart for those who are struggling in our community. Keep up the great work!!! Thank you for your compassion and focus on caring for kids in the community.

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We want to acknowledge the residents of Rancho Cordova and Folsom who have supported the endeavor to collect at least 680 pairs of underwear for local homeless students within the FCUSD. Residents in both cities have been the backbone of the Underwear Drive and we have seen success thus far due to everyday people chipping in here and there. This economy is not an easy one to say the least, but that has not stopped the flow of compassion from locals.

You may be an anonymous donor who simply went to a drop-off location and gave a few pairs or multiple packs of underwear. You probably even told your family and friends too and helped get them involved. We may never know your name, but we admire your kindness and we appreciate your giving. Thank you.

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We are incredibly grateful to have so many Rancho Cordova city employees collecting underwear for the P680 Underwear Drive. The last update we received on Friday had just over 200 pairs of underwear collected so far. We are impressed that city workers and staff members have made such a strong effort to support this cause. It’s neat to see that so many employees care deeply about the community they serve from 9-5. Way to go!!!

On behalf of the community, thank you.

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We are very happy to announce that Curves in Rancho Cordova has donated 130 pairs of new underwear so far for local homeless students for the P680 Underwear Drive. We appreciate their wonderful donation very much and also their heart to support important causes. Curves has previously donated generously to soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Curves, you earn an A+ in our book. Thank you.

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Thank you to River Valley Church in Rancho Cordova for collecting nearly 170 pairs of underwear so far. Congratulations and great work!!! We appreciate your heart for the community in this very practical and important effort.

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