Alpha Resource Center hosted over 100 community participants on June 12, 2010 for the planting of our new orchard. The trees were provided by Dreyer's Fruit Bars in partnership with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation as part of the "Communities Take Root" program. This year, 25 organizations in the U.S. will receive orchards through this program. Alpha was the first recipient, receiving a variety of fruit trees ranging from mango and loquat to mandarin and cherry. The orchard was "won" in an online contest.

From the time we received word that we won, (on May 1, 2010) the Alpha campus buzzed with activity as the ground was prepared, mulch and other supplies were gathered, and volunteers responded to invitations to help with the actual planting only 6 weeks later. The field was scraped of weeds, and marked to place the trees. We also took the opportunity to install an events area for community use, which will help to provide sustainable funds for programs.

On event day, Dreyer's provided fruit bars as well as a commemorative bench for the orchard. The volunteers arrived early for a quick lesson on tree planting, and off they went. Energy was high as over 100 saplings were carefully and swiftly placed in the ground by teams of 4-6 people, with experienced gardeners leading the way. The planting was followed by a brief workshop about planting and nurturing trees led by Rico Montenegro, arborist with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. We hope you will come and visit the orchard! It is a beautiful sight to see. Knowing that soon there will be more fresh food for all of our community to share is an uplifting prospect!

With our orchard in place, we established an "Adopt a Tree" program. If you would like to take part in the future of our orchard, you can adopt a tree for $100.00 per year. There is also the option of adding a bronze commemorative plaque for $250.00 for the first year, $100.00 per year for consecutive years.

For more information on adopting trees please contact:
mpasquini@alphasb.org.

Adopt a Tree.

2010 Picnic a Smash Hit!   

As always, our 2010 picnic was a smash hit! Great food, friends, and a dunking machine are the bones of a great party!

This year we had 35 new guests- cyclists from Push America's "Journey of Hope," a 4,100 mile bicycle ride across the continental United States that raises money and awareness for people with disabilities. Push America is a non-profit developed by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to build leadership in its members through service. Cyclists visited, participated in games, and just enjoyed an evening with us. Chris Adams, spokesperson for the Journey of Hope team said in a blog of their visit at Alpha, "Although it is only day 9 of the Journey of Hope, it is readily visible that change is occurring in each cyclist, and that each cyclist is producing change in the hearts of those with whom he converses during friendship visits." The local chapter of Pi Kappa Phi is interested in supporting Alpha in the coming year through volunteer efforts and we hope to host the cyclists again next year!
           
The traffic to the jumper was constant and craft items made at the craft table, hosted by Amy Buesker and our teen participants, were popular. The water balloon toss and a hula hoop game engaged more of our attendees, and ended with a splash. Alpha Board Member, Jessica Simon, did not want to miss out on the dunk tank. "I want to do it for Alpha!" she said, readying herself for a dip in her street clothes. Her smile was proof that she meant what she said.

Besides the fun and games, we announced new board members, and honored other Alpha volunteers. We inaugurated our Alphatarian program for outstanding volunteers who are passionate about Alpha and want to take leadership in volunteer efforts. We are looking for more members to our Alphatarian club who are interested in volunteering in various capacities."

Our Alphatarian brochure can be found on the publications page of this website.

Please contact Marisa for more information on volunteering:
mpasquini@alphasb.org; 805-683-2145, Ext. 105