PLANT. GROW. GIVE.
The Outreach Farm Project began in the Spring of 2009. This was about the time when the recession’s impact was devastating families throughout the United States and over taxing the resources of local outreach programs for those in need in southern California. At that time Rancho Community Church worked with the Orange County Rescue Mission to create what is now known as the Community Mission of Hope to help meet the needs of those struggling to obtain the basics of food and shelter.
There was a large shortage of food to meet the needs of those going without in the region and although there were some dry goods there was very little fresh produce available to fill in basic nutritional needs. Because of this gap the Outreach Farm Project was born. Approximately 2 acres were dedicated in partnership with a local flower farm and the farm manager’s family to grow fresh fruit and vegetables to help supplement the rescue mission’s food distribution program. The entire program works on donations and volunteers for everything from the ground preparation, seeds and supplies to the labor needed to work the ground and harvest the crops.