TBSC was proud to host a table and support the annual community fundraiser for FoodWhat?! held at Mission Santa Cruz. The event featured a wonderful variety of locally grown food and organic produce, grown, prepared and served by FoodWhat?! teen interns alongside chef partners – Damani Thomas from Oswald Restaurant, Chris LaVeque and El Salchichero, Penny Ice Creamery, Fran Grayson from The Truck Stop, and Ballesteros Catering Company.
During the meal we were each moved by the FoodWhat?! teens heartfelt and transformative stories. The TBSC Executive Committee gives a heartfelt thank you and applauds an amazing youth transformation and development organization, that we are so lucky to have provide job training, inspiration and personal growth to our at risk youth in Santa Cruz County.
The event was a huge success raising a record $80,000 for FoodWhat?! programs in Santa Cruz County.
FoodWhat?! is a youth empowerment program to help low-income and struggling youth from Watsonville to Santa Cruz, grow, cook, eat, and distribute healthy, sustainably raised food in the community. FoodWhat?! youth join the programs through spring Internships and promote up to summer jobs, fall business management positions, and leading big community events on the farm and in the community.
FoodWhat?! creates a safe space where youth engage in leadership development, personal growth and job training. Food What inspires personal transformations by supporting teens to find their own voices and develop lasting confidence in themselves.