Thank you Aon and Marie & Bonnie for their hard work putting this effort together. See Aon’s website at www.aon.com for details on their company.  Aon employees have been a remarkable example of doing something very practical to meet some basic needs among local homeless students. Bravo!!!

Great work everyone!!!

Related posts:

1. Project 680 and California’s Department of Education
2. A Project 680 Partnership: Selling Shoes on e-Bay

Below is a video of Charlene Hunt in Kansas City. You can watch six other videos here too. Thank you everyone for your support. This award is the result of a profound community effort. Thank YOU for making a difference.

You can see our team’s presentation here, some of Andy Gee’s photos here, several videos I shot here, and follow the #allamericacity twitter stream too.

NOTE: Project 680 supports homeless students in both Rancho Cordova and Folsom. We advocate for kids throughout the FCUSD.

Related posts:

1. Videos & Tweets from Kansas City during the All-America City Awards: Follow me!!!
2. Project 680 & An All American City
3. Introducing www.project680.org

I’ll be posting from Kansas City mainly from my Twitter account @SacAppraiser and I’ll be getting some videos up at www.facebook.com/Project680 (directly on my YouTube page at www.youtube.com/lundquistco). The official hash-tag on Twitter is #AllAmericaCity (note it is not “American”, but “America”). I’d love to hear from you during my stint in Kansas City. Your support will be a huge encouragement.

We are a team in Project 680, and it’s a real honor to represent the team in Kansas City next week. Go Rancho Cordova!!!!

Related posts:

1. Rancho Cordova is now an “All-America City”
2. Project 680 & An All American City
3. Join Project 680 on Twitter

One of the things I love about working at the California Department of Education is the desire and opportunity of the staff to collectively make a difference in the world around us. I want to thank everyone for their participation in the April sock drive. CDE raised 512 pairs of socks contributing to the Project680 grand total of 2,725 pairs of socks. I also wanted to share with you a snapshot of a conversation I recently had with Charlene Hunt, Resource Teacher and Homeless Liaison, Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD).  

Charlene told me a story about one rainy day in the 2003/04 school year when a kid came in and asked for another pair of socks to keep his feet warm. From the top, his shoes looked to be in good condition, from the bottom however, there were holes in his overly worn soles. This too familiar exchange inspired the first community shoe event which consisted of asking friends, family, and local community groups to donate gift cards for shoes.

Subsequent drives for shoes, socks or underwear have been held yearly. “The need for basic essentials is great among these kids. Physical Education teachers have reported that kids will choose poorer grades over the embarrassment of changing clothes revealing their often ill fitted or ragged undergarments. Items donated keep the kids warm and protected so they can focus on academics rather than discomfort and shame. For kids, receiving essentials like socks, underwear and shoes let’s them know that they are cared for, not just equipped with the basics of education.”

The most encouraging part of our discussion was when she shared how liaisons watch over these kids throughout their educational years. In the course of the last 11 years, the academic performances and attentive engagement of hundreds of students have increased. And each year since the program started every single senior with the exception of 2 kids has graduated high school. Our district liaisons stay connected with the kids until they get to college or a vocational school. Clearly intervention makes a difference to help these impoverished yet gifted and talented kids finish school.

When asked for a quote about project680, the catalyst for our CDE sock drive, Charlene spoke of the founder Ryan Lundquist. “He observed the need, listened with his heart and shared the need with friends who listened with their hearts. They simply spread the word and put it out there.” Thank you for listening with your heart CDE.

Related posts:

1. What does $1,000 and Sims Metal have in common?
2. “Raiding the Sock Aisle” is Music to our Ears
3. The CA Dept of Education Does More than Textbooks

Related posts:

1. Bike Ride Photos by JoAnna Bueno-Williams
2. Get Project 680 Posts Emailed Directly to You
3. Grapevine Story: “Really Big Shoes”

The National Civic League this week named Rancho Cordova among the finalists for the 2010 All-America City Award, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious civic recognition award.

The finalist status sets in motion an eight-week sprint to pull together a delegation and presentation and raise funds for a trip during which Rancho Cordova will make its case to be awarded what has been described as the “Nobel Prize” of civic accomplishment.   The competition will be held in Kansas City June 16-18.   “These are some of the most innovative communities in the country,” said National Civic League President Gloria Rubio-Cortez of the finalists. “They give us hope and inspiration and teach us important lessons about leveraging the civic energy of ordinary people to address difficult challenges during some tough economic times.”   To become a finalist, each participant completed an application documenting three community projects that address their most pressing challenges. Each finalist will send a delegation to Kansas City to tell their stories of positive community change to a jury of civic experts. The 10 All-America Cities will be announced on June 18.   The Rancho Cordova application was crafted by the Cordova Community Council and features three signature projects which will be examined by a national panel of judges. One of the projects must focus on youth.   Rancho Cordova’s application includes:

• Project 680, the grassroots effort led by Cordova Towne neighborhood activist Ryan Lundquist, which collects everyday items such as socks, underwear and shoes to benefit homeless children in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. The project draws its name from the 680 children who have been identified as homeless in the FCUSD.(Project 680 is a 2010 Cordova Community Council Volunteer Awards winner. Read all about it at www.cordovacouncil.org.)
• Rancho Cordova Cultural Heritage (Saturday) Schools, a collaborative effort of immigrant parents and the Folsom Cordova Unified School District to preserve and honor arts and culture of mother countries. The project builds bridges between immigrant groups and the community at-large, has improved academic performance among immigrant children and has provided for cultural enrichment for the entire population of the city.(Learn more about iFest at www.cordovacouncil.org)
• The Rancho Cordova City Hall project, which is providing a “civic heart” for the new city, incubating business and community engagement, as well as serving as a home for municipal services. The City Hall project has fostered important civic links as the community matures as an incorporated city and is a symbol of change and progress in a city striving to change its image.

“We are proud of our application and think that it reflects what we are all about at this point in our civic history,” said Shelly Blanchard, executive director of the Cordova Community Council. “It showcases how people work with business, work with government and work together across many sectors to improve our community. It is about our collaborative, unfaltering belief in our bright future.”   This is the second bite at the apple for Rancho Cordova, which was named a 2009 All America City finalist, and was the youngest city in the competition last year.

Related posts:

1. Rancho Cordova is now an “All-America City”
2. Videos & Tweets from Kansas City during the All-America City Awards: Follow me!!!

As a community team, our goal is to collect at least 2000 pairs of socks so that we can build up a reserve to resource local homeless students with socks through the next year (or longer).

You are invited to join forces with the Project 680 team. We encourage local residents, churches, businesses and organizations to get involved – AND to get creative where possible about collecting socks. All ages are encouraged to participate too. If you are interested in donating socks, you are welcome to drop them off at any location listed HERE or bring them on the day of the community bike ride. Financial donations can also be made if you wish (click here for details).

Together we can make a difference!!! We will make a difference!!!

Related posts:

1. What’s that smell? It’s vision brewing!!!
2. Brightfarm is Collecting Socks for Project 680
3. The CA Dept of Education Does More than Textbooks

The American River Trails are an absolutely amazing place to ride a bike. If you have not yet discovered the beauty and wonder of the trails, consider joining us. However, be careful because you might find something you really love!!!

The following was put together by me (Ryan) a year or so ago. Keep in mind these are photos I took of the trails while riding a bike. I thought it would be creative to make a little “video” of images of the parkway. This is what we’re going to be riding on May 8, 2010, and I wanted you to have a good sense in case you’ve never enjoyed the trails before.

Related posts:

1. Two Bike Rides on One Day: “Biking for Socks”
2. Project 680 Community Bike Ride: “Riding for Shoes for Homeless Students”
3. Volunteer Opportunities for “Biking for Socks”

Here’s the deal on money. If things are so tight for you right now and you really want to come on the bike ride, please don’t even worry about the $5.00 donation we have suggested per rider (or $10.00 per household). This economy is not an easy one, and money should not hold anyone back from participating. Seriously!!!

It’s very powerful when we get together and show our solidarity for a cause, so let’s flex some group muscle and pedal on May 8, 2010 together as a way to adovocate for homeless students in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

Together we can do it!!!

Related posts:

1. Volunteer Opportunities for “Biking for Socks”
2. What are the trails like for the Community Bike Ride?
3. Save the Date: Bike Ride on May 8, 2010

When someone donates $10 for a magnet, 100% of your donation will go toward supporting the needs of the Folsom Cordova District Liaison for Homeless Services. Email or call 916-595-3735 for details.

Bottlecap Magnets are sealed with a clear and smooth surface similar to glass and each is handmade. They are perfect for the fridge, office or even a gift, and theyll be available early next week for as long as supplies last. The great thing too is that a magnet on the fridge or at the office can be a sweet reminder of the good work you did by providing socks for needy students

Related posts:

1. New Project 680 Video: “One Cap. One Shoe.”
2. A Closer View of Bottlecap Magnets (coming in 3 days)
3. Fridge Art Helps Put Shoes on Homeless Students