News from Ceres

In this issue:
 Letter from Cathryn
 Are we YOUR Great Nonprofit? Leadership Award to Sharon  Keating, Ceres Board Chair
 Dream Kitchen Crowdfunding
 Nutrition Article:
   Supplements
 
 Recipe of the Month:
   Sauerkraut
 CeresFest Photos & Thanks
 Ceres at Bioneers
 Job Openings at our New  Santa Rosa Kitchen
 Impact 100 Video
 Community Benefits Events
Classes & Events

 Ways to Support Ceres

Follow us on Social Media:


 

Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and donors, we've supported 
more than 500 families in Marin and Sonoma counties with healing meals so far this year, and we're on track to provide 94,000 meals by the end of 2015. Each of these beautiful, healthy meals was created with care by a teen working in our San Rafael, Sebastopol and Sonoma kitchens and gardens for a community member in need.

Leticia is just one example of a client who you've helped us serve this year. You'll find a link to her story below my letter. As so many clients tell us, she did not have the energy to shop or cook for herself. Ceres' delivered meals meant that she and her son were nourished, and their experience inspired both of them to create long-term changes to the way they eat. 

I'm grateful to all of you who partner with us to make sure that our clients don't come through a medical crisis malnourished, and to provide teens with a place to give back, gain skills and discover that healthy food is delicious.
 
As of the end of September, we've raised $1,155,000-- more than 70% of our annual fund goal. I hope you'll help us reach our full funding goal this year. There are lots of opportunities to support Ceres' work, including:

You can make a donation to our Annual Fund to support our work and mission. Watch for our end-of-year fundraising appeal, or make a donation online anytime. 

Donate to our crowdfunding campaign to equip our new site at the Dream Center in Santa Rosa. This new site will serve 40,000 healing meals a year, plus provide youth from the Dream Center and surrounding community with vocational training and work experience via our on-site cafe and catering services. Read more below and visit our Crowdrise page to donate or get involved. 

Thank you for partnering with us to create a healthier community-one teen, one client, one healing meal at a time.

Warmly, 

Cathryn Couch
Executive Director

GreatNPAre We YOUR Great Nonprofit?
If we are, please take a moment and let Great Nonprofits know today!

Your comments and ratings are what has launched us into the Top Rated Nonprofit designation for the last 5 years! 

Help us get our 2015 Top Rated badge by sharing your reviews by October 31st. Let them know we're YOUR Great Nonprofit!
Plus, your review helps new donors and volunteers find Ceres Community Project.

LeticiaWhy Our Meals Matter: Leticia's Story
Leticia, a recent client, shared how Ceres' meals and services helped her come through her treatment and regain her health.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. When the hospital social worker advised me to call Ceres to get help with meals, I thought it wouldn't be necessary, but I'm so glad I called. 

The way the chemotherapy treatment affected me, I couldn't cook for myself. My son Donovan (age 20) is the only family I live with, and he works long hours, so I was home alone a lot. When I received the meals, I could feed myself. There's no way I could have shopped and cooked. I didn't have the energy."


SharonKeatingSharon Keating, Ceres' Board Chair, wins Nonprofit Leadership Award
Sharon Keating, Ceres' Board Chair, was honored this week with a Nonprofit Board Leadership Award from the North Bay Business Journal. She is richly deserving of this acknowledgement for her four years of dedicated service to Ceres.

She has made innumerable contributions to the Ceres staff and board as the organization has scaled to its current size and multiple location sites. Congratulations!

ClientNoteNote from a Client
This month's quote comes from one of our clients who had been receiving Ceres meals and is part of a program we're piloting to support clients in maintaining healthy eating habits as they transition off our meal program. These clients receive a weekly delivery of fresh produce from the Ceres Garden along with recipes featuring items in their box.

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"I just really wanted to thank you for all the beautiful produce you have been sending.
I have been feeling poorly, but your vegetables have really made a different to me
in my diet. I have a hard time chewing and can't eat so many things due to
my doctor's recommendations, but everything you send I can eat.
My health is in flux, depending on my chemotherapy, surgeries, physical
illness disorders. Your vegetables have been key to helping me feel better. 

 I made some of the dishes you sent recipes for in your letters, and they were great.
I am so touched by your graciousness and loving gifts that you faithfully have sent on Thursdays. I look forward to Ceres Angels coming-it's a ray of hope.
I hope this letter is received by y'all, every Ceres person is like an angel to me.
I hope I will be able to give back in service in the future when I am feeling strong again.

PS My son really enjoys the vegetables and is asking me how he can learn to cook them. What a great surprise!

- Client

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The last week has been an amazing show of support by you and those you've shared our appeal with, launching us to 93% of our goal of $35,000!
 
Our Crowdfunding campaign ends on October 31 -- we have 2 days to raise the remaining $2370! Two donors have pledged a total of $2,000 as matching funds. If you haven't had a chance to donate yet, you can do so now and have your donation doubled thanks to these two donors' challenge grant.

Why does this campaign matter?
At the Dream Center, Ceres will be offering community service and vocational training programs to help former foster and homeless youth learn about healthy eating and gain work experience. What's more, the young people we serve will be producing 40,000 meals a year for families in the area dealing with cancer and other health crises.

If you've been meaning to donate or share this project with friends, this is a great time to do it! We have 2 days! With your help, we can do it. 

Click here to go directly to the Crowdrise campaign.

Click here for our fun movie to share with others and inspire them!


NutritionArticleNutrition Article
Supplements
by Thais Harris, NC
Nutrition Education Program Manager, Ceres Community Project

People often ask me about whether supplements are really necessary or helpful at all. My standard answer is: it depends!

We each have a special set of needs, according to our bio-individuality, which means no one answer is good for everyone.

However, there are a few supplements that can assist most people in maintaining their health, and these are the ones I feel most comfortable recommending for the general public, without knowing the specifics of a person's background and/or condition.
Image credit: denAsuncioner via Flickr Creative Commons


RecipeRecipe of the Month

Sauerkraut!

It's not the first time you've heard us talk about the benefits of fermented foods here at Ceres. This month, we wanted to remind you of the value that this food as medicine can provide, since it is also mentioned in our Nutrition Article. 

Why not give it a try? Make your own sauerkraut and enjoy daily bites of probiotic goodness for belly and beyond.

This recipe is excerpted from Ceres' Nourishing Connections Cookbook, which is filled with many of the healthy and delicious recipes the Ceres Teen Chefs cook to support and nourish our clients. Consider purchasing a copy for yourself or a loved one - you'll be supporting our work at Ceres at the same time! 

Click here for the pdf of the recipe! 

We love to hear from you when you've tried our recipes! You can post your experiences here on our Facebook page

CeresFestCeresFest Pictures and Thank You!


CeresFest was once again a delightful gathering of our Ceres community to connect over good food and good music at Lagunitas Brewing Company's Beer Garden. Thanks to all who joined us!
                                   
Thank You!
To our host: 
Lagunitas Brewing Company

Whole Foods Market - Petaluma
Wildbrine
The Kefiry
Screamin' Mimis
Redwood Hill Farm & Dairy
Patrick Stewart
Diego Maldonado and Julie Leveque
To the band:
Tommy Thomsen & Band
Catfish Jack

Ideal Hardware
Peoples Music
Barbara Friedman
Sandy Eastoak

BioneersCeres at the Bioneers Conference

Ceres made its debut presenting at the 3-day National Bioneers conference at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael earlier this month.

Cathryn Couch, our Executive Director, led an inspiring afternoon workshop titled "Healing Foods, Healthy Communities." It was incredibly inspiring and well-received!

On Saturday, day 2 of the conference, Ceres teens served delicious Ceres fare to over 300 people at the Bioneers Youth Unity Tent. It was wonderful to see our Ceres teens connect with Indigenous youth and many others from different parts of the Bay Area and beyond over kale salad and other tasty dishes. During our debrief at the end of the day, several of the teens said the highlight of the day was serving the food- they were so proud of it and received such amazing feedback.

Teen Leaders Hannah, Sophie and Levi presented an excellent workshop on how food connects us to so many other issues as well as to each other. It was interactive and interesting and got people talking to each other. The three had worked hard preparing for the workshop and it showed. They even brought their creativity to the note-taking: while Hannah captured audience ideas and input, Levi followed up with little pieces of art.

This year, 11 teens and 9 staff were able to participate at the Conference. A huge THANK YOU to Bioneers for this wonderful collaboration and for giving so many youth scholarships.

You can find more pictures from the event in our Facebook album.
   


JobsJob Openings at Ceres' New Santa Rosa Kitchen
Our new Santa Rosa kitchen is opening in February. Please pass these positings on to those that you think can help us find the perfect person for these important roles at Ceres.

Ceres Community Project seeks applicants for the following open positions for this new location:

Impact100Impact 100 Video about Ceres in Sonoma Valley
One of the seed funders for our Sonoma Valley Kitchen, Impact 100, created this beautiful video highlighting the impact their funding has made at Ceres.


BenefitsCommunity Events to Benefit Ceres
Analy Cross Country 5th Annual Turkey Scramble
Thanksgiving morning, November 26

Join in this fun run!
It's a flat and easy beautiful race course that includes the High School track, the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the bike path to Andy's Market with snack stations along the way. You can choose from 3 levels (2K, 5K, or 8 K).
Come run or walk so you can enjoy your dinner later... 

Proceeds benefit Ceres and the Analy Cross Country Team.


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Chili Cook Off hosted by K-Tech Automotive
at 198 S. High St, Sebastopol, CA 

This event will feature numerous chili recipes to sample from, cooked up by local restaurants and service clubs. There will be DJ music, a raffle and more.
Stay tuned for updates!

Thank you, K-Tech Automotive and Analy Cross Country Team, for supporting Ceres with your events!

UpcomingEventsUpcoming Classes & Events

Please note the location of events, as this calendar lists events for our Sebastopol, Sonoma Valley and San Rafael locations.

You can also find our events listed on our website here.
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Healing Foods Essentials -Sebastopol
OCT
29
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Make the connection between your health and the food and lifestyle factors that influence it. Healing Foods Essentials is open to those who have taken a Healing Foods Basics class. 

In this class, we will delve a little deeper into:

♥ Anti-inflammatory Foods
♥ Fats: which to use and how to cook them properly
♥ Managing your blood sugar

This class involves a hands-on portion, and we will make a healthy dish together!

Space is limited, so please register early.

Invite friends on Facebook!
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Nov
3
Volunteer Orientation - Sonoma Valley 
6:00 - 7:00 pm

Take the first step towards becoming part of the Ceres volunteer family. This orientation is focused on volunteering at the Sonoma Valley Ceres kitchen and will take place at:

Hanna Boys Center
17000 Arnold Drive, Sonoma

For questions please contact:
[email protected] or 707-829 5833 x230 
_____________________________________________________
Nov
17
Volunteer Orientation - Sebastopol 
6:00 - 7:00 pm

Take the first step towards becoming part of the Ceres volunteer family. If you are interested in attending, please visit the volunteer pages to learn more and register. Registration opens the first day of the month of that orientation.  (Parents of teens need not register.)

_____________________________________________________
Nov
18
Teen Volunteer Orientation - Marin  
5:00 - 6:00 pm

Ceres Marin continues to grow and invites teens to attend an orientation to learn about the volunteer roles. 

 

This orientation will take place at:

 Ceres Marin Kitchen
4308 Redwood Highway, Suite 100
San Rafael, CA 94903

Note: The kitchen is in "The Vineyard" on Frontage Road between Freitas Parkway and Smith Ranch Road.


Reservations are essential due to space limitations.

Please contact Rebecca Schilling, Teen Program Coordinator, to reserve your space at 415-450-5251 or email [email protected]

Invite friends on Facebook! 

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SupportMore Ways to Support Ceres


*Join Our Kale Club*

Become one of our monthly donors and you'll automatically be enrolled in our Kale Club.
Kale Club membership perks include a monthly email with a collection of delicious and healthy recipes from the Ceres kitchen!

*Purchase the Ceres Cookbook*

Ceres' Nourishing Connections Cookbook is filled with 
delicious and healthy recipes...

PLUS read about how Ceres came to be, and benefit from the extensive section outlining Ceres' Food Philosophy and hands on strategies to empower you to make healthy change in your life. More details and sample recipes here.


*Whole Foods*

Visit Whole Foods Market and enjoy a delicious, healthy deli salad or soup adapted from Ceres' Nourishing Connections Cookbook. 

Ceres receives a $1.00 donation for every pint purchased. Look for special signage in these Whole Foods locations:

Santa Rosa (Yulupa)
Coddingtown
Sebastopol
Petaluma
Sonoma
Blithedale
Novato
Mill Valley
San Rafael
Napa
and other Northern California locations!

*Community Cards*

Earn funds for Ceres when you shop at Oliver's Markets, Petaluma Market, Fircrest and other local markets.

Pick up your eScrip Community Card the next time you shop, and designate Ceres as your beneficiary. The markets will donate 3-5% of your spending to us.

escrip petaluma mkt escrip olivers

*AmazonSmile*

You can easily support Ceres through the purchases you already make on Amazon.com.

Visit Smile.Amazon.com to choose Ceres as your beneficiary organization and then access Amazon via Smile.Amazon.com every time you shop.

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Ceres.


OPERATING PRINCIPLES

Heart Centered & Love Guided

We are committed to expressing love, trust, respect and integrity in our lives, work and organization. 

 

Everything Matters

Nothing is left out. We work to have every action and choice lead to the greatest positive impact.

 

Young People are the Future

Young People are intelligent, responsible, capable, creative and caring, and must be central participants in shaping our collective future.

 

The Universe has a Purpose

Everything is connected, and life continually invites us to experience gratitude, abundance, connection, community and healing. 



Ceres Logo 2012
We create health for people, communities and the planet through love, 
healing food and empowering the next generation.