We Love Our Farm Stand Volunteers!

Twenty seven acres of vibrant greenery abound in The Villages at Cabrillo, where nearly 1,500 neighbors reside in what is commonly referred to as a “food desert.” The nearest grocery store is a lengthy walk away, and access to transportation can be an obstacle for many in The Villages who may be struggling with a low income and experiencing food insecurity.

But what about all the green? There are small, but highly activated, community gardens at The Villages and 114 fruit trees thriving with plums, lemons, and even pomegranates! Sure, residents are welcome to pick what they like and enjoy, but the more convenient, one-stop-shop for low-cost, locally grown fruits and veggies is the weekly Farm Stand.

Powered by volunteers with a passion for improving access to high-quality, organic produce, the Century Villages at Cabrillo Farm Stand rolls out every Tuesday with a wide selection for residents to enjoy. Without the tireless commitment of the volunteers who visit The Villages every week to operate the Farm Stand, the CVC “food desert” would go without the high-quality produce that grows in its very own backyard!

Some produce grows on-site at The Villages and is picked by residents who are also volunteers, giving their time to care for the community gardens and share the fruits of their labor with their community. The rest of the Farm Stand collection comes from Long Beach gardens outside of The Villages and from donations of partner organizations.

The Farm Stand is one of many opportunities for volunteers who love to give back to their local community. And, it’s really fun!

“I am 73 years old, and I guess I shouldn’t be living on the streets.”

"I have gotten from there to here"Those were a few of his words during our conversation.

The first time I met Jeff, as everyone calls him, it was the winter of 2013 during the homeless count that took place in the city of Long Beach.

Our volunteer group came across him as we were canvassing our area along the 710 freeway. Jeff was living in the concrete flood control channel where the Los Angeles River flows, inside an enormous concrete drain.

In there was his bed, a bicycle and the few possessions he had. He shared with us that every time it rained, the drainage system would loudly open, and as they quickly evacuated, he would witness all of his belongings being washed by the rain. That is the place Jeff called home for more than 15 years.

Once we completed taking his information, we found out that Jeff was a Navy veteran who had served in the Vietnam war.

During that year, the housing policy had changed to “housing first,” and a group of organizations in the city had teamed up to provide housing for homeless veterans who would be willing to be housed during the homeless count.

Jeff decided that it was time for him to change his living situation and took our offer to move him into a new home. We then arranged transportation for him and decided to wait.

We did not want the transportation to not be able to find him or for him to change his mind, so, we waited. Finally, the vehicle that would take Jeff to Century Villages at Cabrillo arrived. There, he would be receiving housing and case management services.

A few weeks went by, and I saw Jeff walking down the street shouting and cursing, “I hate this place.”

I was surprised. I expected him to be in a better place mentally, but that was not the case for him.

I got the opportunity to visit Jeff’s new home a couple days later. As I entered, I observed post-it notes all over his wall. Every one of them had a quote written on them– one of them read:

“I have gotten from there to here.”

It was then when I got a moment of clarity. I wanted more for Jeff; I wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to be in a better place, but for Jeff, it’s day to day.

It’s the little victories that are meaningful: making his bed in the mornings, getting along with his neighbors, going out for a walk.

Those things are wins for Jeff. It’s been five years since this took place, and I am glad to know that Century Villages at Cabrillo is still home to Jeff, and for that, hats off to him.

Story by Alejandro Sosa, IT Lead, Century Villages at Cabrillo