On November 23, 2024, HGP hosted its annual Holiday Celebration, screening the documentary film Food, Inc. 2 and a talk by author Eric Schlosser at the 418 Project in downtown Santa Cruz. Before the event, HGP welcomed Chris Beresh and Kyle Franks to speak of their experience with the program. Below are their talks:
Good evening,
My name is Christopher Beresh. I’ve come here tonight to show support and introduce my best friend Kyle, who’s going to be sharing a little bit about his life, his experience at the Homeless Garden Project, and how the program has impacted him personally.
Kyle and I come from similar backgrounds. Years upon years of drug use, crime, and incarceration. For me, I thought the chaos that became my life would never end. I was recently released from prison 4 months ago, after serving a 3 year sentence.
The day I got out I had a plan for success, and entered myself into a 6 month drug and alcohol program that encourages clients to find employment in the community. Kyle ended up being my roommate, and immediately I could tell he was as serious about changing his life as me. Kyle brought me with him to the HGP farm to volunteer and hopefully get a job. We were both hired 2 weeks later.
Working at the Homeless Garden Project has been a life changing experience for us both. We have built a solid friendship that keeps each other accountable in and out of the workplace, and encourages one another to keep moving forward in our lives. In the past 4 months, Kyle has become a loyal friend that I’m grateful to have in my life.
Everybody give a warm welcome to Kyle Franks.
Good evening
My name is Kyle Franks I was born here in Santa Cruz in 1986. This is my community. This is our community. We can all help impact and support this beautiful town. I used to take Santa Cruz for granted. I was broken, homeless and addicted to drugs and crime. My mom went to prison when I was three and I was in the foster care system and lived with different family members. I didn’t meet my dad till I was 10. I blamed authority and law enforcement so naturally I rebelled and looked up to outlaws.
I had a very skewed belief system but today because of the homeless garden project and getting clean and sober, I have a new sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Hey, I actually have a set of core values and beliefs. Today I have a mountain of gratitude.
Seeing everything we grow and harvest, and seeing the members of our community coming and picking up is so radical. I really get to see the fruits and veggies of our labor.
-Kyle Franks
One of my values is creativity. I used to be a vandal. I love doing graffiti. After my last incarceration and getting clean and sober, I’m no longer willing to risk my freedom to paint under a bridge. Now at homeless garden project, I get to use my talent for good, painting signs at the farm. I’ve done three so far and working on a new 20 ft sign to go on Delaware.
I also value community. Before becoming a trainee at Homeless Garden Project, I never thought I’d be a productive member of our society. I was stuck in a cycle of crime and addiction. Today my life has purpose. Seeing the farm cycle of growth is amazing. I get to see seeds go into the ground, grow and get watered. We harvest over 80 CSA baskets of produce on Tuesday and Friday for nourishment and healthy food for our community. Seeing everything we grow and harvest, and seeing the members of our community coming and picking up is so radical. I really get to see the fruits and veggies of our labor. There is so much behind the scenes that goes on from the volunteers who come to bring us lunch everyday to the people who volunteer and all the shops and the volunteers who work side by side with us at the farm.
When I first started this path of recovery I had no idea what I was going to do. Because of my criminal record, it’s made finding work difficult. While I was in Janus of Santa Cruz, Homeless Garden Project gave me a pair of socks and a business card with information on how to join the team. So I called after I graduated. I talked to Hannah and she told me to come in for an interview and I asked her if I could bring my new best friend Chris. We came to the farm and volunteered for a couple hours and they gave us lunch. It was so delicious and we wanted in.
I am so grateful they hired me and Chris. Homeless Garden Project is a safe place to heal and get back on your feet. It is a clean and sober work environment. The first day I started, one of the farm managers, Adam, told me to have fun. Fun! I knew I was in the right place.
Thanks to my social worker, Chris, and Evan for helping me figure out stability and well-being goals and the individual steps to achieve them. The programs broke up into two month milestones to help your goals to be more manageable. Everything from health and mindfulness to transportation and housing, conflict resolution and time management. Before, I couldn’t be on time to save my life. Now, I haven’t been late or missed a day of work once.
I was able to get my motorcycle and driver’s license. I got my first bank account in 8 years, and was able to get a loan from the bank to get my new motorcycle. Even better, I got a new loyal best friend and I got the love of my life Amanda back. Our relationship is now better than it ever has been in the past.
Because of my past, I’d like to help others heal. Now being clean and sober, I’d like to give the gift that was so freely given to me. I’d like to help other people on their journey to sobriety and go back to school to become a substance use disorder counselor.
The amount of confidence and self worth I’ve gained here is unmeasurable and hard to put into words. Could you imagine if there were more programs or more room in the Homeless Garden Project to help people get off the streets and give them purpose? Anyone can help. Get involved! We all can and do contribute to this beautiful town of Santa Cruz.
Thank you and have a good night.
