project680.org

We are very excited about our upcoming “Biking for Socks” event on May 8, 2010. We are doing a community bike ride in order to accomplish three things: 1) Bring awareness to the problem of student homelessness in the FCUSD; 2) Collect socks for homeless kids in the FCUSD; and 3) Gather up a few bucks to be able to give to the District Liaison for Homeless Services so she can meet the needs of students on an “as needed” basis – meaning that when the neediest of students come to her, she can simply take care of some of the things they need – whether clothing, deodarant, shoes, study materials, etc….

There will be two bike rides – a short 20 minute ride (one way) and then a more experienced 30 mile ride. Anyone can participate. You can sign up below or on Facebook. Beyond the bike ride, there will be other ways to get involved (in case you are not a bike person). We invite you to consider some of the following. Or let us know an idea you have.

• Become a “drop off” location for socks. We’d like to see about a dozen locations in the community where socks can be collected and/or dropped off between now and the bike ride. We’ll keep a list online as volunteers step forward.
• Get a “Bike Team” togther. Maybe you could gather some friends, co-workers or people at your church to come out to the ride. If you are a business, then wear company shirts or get really creative somehow if you’d like.
• Help make signs and set out signage on the day of the bike ride (so that riders know where to stop).
• Work with Starbucks or another local coffee shop to get coffee provided for the morning of the ride. It would be great to have some bagles or OJ too.
• Volunteer at the sign-in table on the morning of the ride.
• Take photos or video on the day of the ride.
• Be a business sponsor.
• Pass on the word about this community emphasis on Facebook, Twitter, Email, YouTube or however you can. The more people that know, the better.
• Help get some media exposure for the event. Got media contacts?
• Other logistics.
• Maybe you have another creative idea or way to advocate for local homeless students. We are open ears and we’d love to see your creativity in motion.

Please comment on this post, email us, sign up on Facebook or fill in the form below to let us know how you’d like to get involved or if you have any questions or ideas. We’ll update the categories above as people volunteer so that you know what is available. Thank you so much.

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We wanted to give a very quick update to let everyone know that on May 8, 2010 we will be doing a community bike ride. This is the day before Mother’s Day at 10am. We’ll have two rides – a short beginner ride and a 30 mile ride (Rancho Cordova to Folsom and back is 30 miles). We’re going to have a blast and we’ll be collecting socks and doing some other cool things as a part of this ride. More details will come very soon. Are you getting excited?

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Next Wednesday, February 17, 2010, we will have a Project 680 brainstorming session at Starbucks in Rancho Cordova (off of Olson Drive & Zinfandel – across from Target). We’ll hash out some details for an upcoming “Riding for Leaders” emphasis. Our big idea is to do a community bike ride fundraiser at some point within the next few months to empower a couple local kids to attend a leadership camp. The idea of giving life and leadership tools to deserving students (who show promise), is really thrilling. If you have any resources that would be a benefit, we are open ears.

All are welcome, but if you can, let us know you’re coming so we can plan best. We’ll meet for 60-90 minutes. Thanks everyone!!!

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We received an email today from a man who wants to help support the Project 680 Shoe Drive. Instead of donating cash, a check, or a Payless Shoe Source gift card, he is getting creative about how to pull together some funds to support local homeless students (and we like that). He attached a photo of a pair of brand new shoes he is selling on e-Bay. All proceeds from the sale will be directed toward the P680 Shoe Drive.

This is a really great idea, and it could work well with any marketable product, and even on other websites like Craigslist. It’s nice too because sometimes we have things laying around the house that are valuable to someone else, but all they do is collect dust at home. Like the saying goes, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

NOTE: Some of you may be asking, “why doesn’t this guy just give the shoes to Project 680 so that we can turn and give them to a needy homeless student?” Good question. Basically, there are two reasons why this won’t work: 1) Both he and I firmly agreed that the color of the shoes may be too closely affiliated with gang-related colors, and that is not something we want to promote for students. Anyone else think that too?; 2) In the past, the District Liaison for Homeless Services has received donations of new shoes, which is a generous gesture, but basically these donated shoes typically sit off to the side because they are not relevant in style or size. Homeless students enjoy picking out brand new shoes anyway because they have their own sense of style. Usually donated shoes do not fit right or they are just not up to today’s fashion standards. Additionally, it is worth noting that Payless Shoe Source, the local vendor for the shoe drive, offers a “buy one pair, get the second pair 1/2 off,” which is a tremendous savings. Moreover, Payless also offers the shoes to the District Liaison for Homeless Services with NO SALES TAX. In essence, this ends up being a tremendous savings for buying a high quantity of shoes, but also a real blessing for the students because they have a very large supply of shoes to choose from. Does that make sense?

By the way, the man who is selling these shoes on e-Bay was a really good sport about this story being posted here (we just wanted you to know because we won’t be posting stories about interactions we have with everyone, especially without permission). 

Kudos to a creative man for his idea to support the shoe drive. Way to go!!!

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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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The Grapevine Independent is running the following article in tomorrow’s newspaper. We appreciate very much a mention of the upcoming shoe drive. Thank you Grapevine!!! Also, welcome to any Grapevine readers who may have found your way to our website after reading the article. If you have any questions or ideas, just let us know.

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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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Okay everyone, get your calendars and a pen. We plan to meet on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 6:30pm at a location TBA (we already have a local business owner who has offered her place). We invite local community members to come to this meeting and be a part of the vision that is unfolding for the Project 680 family in the Fall.

At this meeting we are going to brainstorm some ideas and get creative about an opportunity we have to support a shoe drive for homeless students in the FCUSD. There is also a strong possibility of putting together a boutique where some of our target students can do some shopping for themselves (in December) after they get new shoes. What we do will really come down to the level of buy-in from community members and what we decide to move forward with.

Do any of these ideas resonate with you? There is so much potential, so let’s unpack the vision a little, kick around some thoughts and figure out what we can do as a team.

More details coming soon.

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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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