At the Homeless Garden Project, every product tells a story — of transformation, purpose, and care. From the first lavender seed sown in rich coastal soil to the final ribbon tied around a jar of handmade jam, our products are made with heart and intention. You’re not just purchasing a gift; you’re supporting a journey. Let’s take you behind the …
Every Dollar Plants a Seed of Change: How Your Purchase at the HGP Store Supports Lives in Transition
When you shop at the Homeless Garden Project Store—whether in person or online—you’re doing far more than buying a thoughtful gift or a handmade good. You’re investing directly in people working hard to rebuild their lives. Every dollar you spend goes toward paid job training, employment, and career mentorship for individuals transitioning out of homelessness in Santa Cruz. Where Your …
Gifts That Bloom with Purpose
Spring Gifts That Give Back: Thoughtful Finds from the Homeless Garden Project Store Spring is a season of renewal—a time to reconnect, celebrate, and give. At the Homeless Garden Project Store, every item tells a story of transformation and possibility. Whether you’re searching for a meaningful birthday gift, a thoughtful Easter token, or something special for Mother’s Day, our handcrafted …
Meet the Makers: Carrie Young’s Journey at the Homeless Garden Project
When you purchase a candle, bar of soap, or any handcrafted item from the Homeless Garden Project Store, you’re not just buying a product—you’re supporting a story of resilience, transformation, and hope. Behind each handmade gift is a person who has poured their time, effort, and heart into its creation. One of those individuals is Carrie Young. A Fresh Start …
Why Shopping with a Purpose Matters: How Your Purchase Changes Lives
The Power of Shopping with a Purpose In a world where gift-giving can sometimes feel routine, choosing a gift that gives back brings a deeper meaning. At the Homeless Garden Project, every item sold supports our mission to empower individuals experiencing homelessness through job training, skill-building, and transitional employment. Our products are crafted with care, but even more importantly, they …
Cultivating the Beloved Community
My name is Alison Alkon and I’m a professor in the community studies program at UCSC. I do research and write and teach about food justice, meaning the ways that inequalities like race, class and gender affect who gets access to healthy food, so clearly an organization like the Homeless Garden Project, that helps folks who are struggling to both …
Growing Together: Volunteer Spotlights
Volunteers are the heart of everything we do at the Homeless Garden Project. Everyone who joins us has their own story, their own reason for showing up. In this series, we’re handing them the mic to share why they volunteer, what they’ve learned, and what this community means to them. Take a read, get inspired, and maybe even join us! …
A Sense of Fulfillment
This testimonial was delivered at HGP’s October First Friday event, Hope Renewed, at the Downtown Store on October 4th, 2024, following a talk from Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley. Hello, my name is Charles Ian Stange, a 43-year-old originally from Berkeley, California, born on September 17, 1981, at Alta Bates Hospital. My mother, Jill Marie Blough, was just 17 and …
Engaging in Active Hope
We are pleased to share this keynote talk from HGP’s July 20,2024 Sustain Supper by Anne R. Kapuscinski, Director of Coastal Science and Policy program & Professor of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz & Chair of Board of Directors, Union of Concerned Scientists. Video of the full presentation is at the bottom of the post with Anne’s talk …
