Looks like people are noticing the local talent we have out in our community! We just read this letter to the editior in the Santa Cruz Sentinel about two local bands that support Grind Out Hunger; Almost Chaos AND Blue Weekend. Thought we would share this with you all and give you a little bit more info about our involvement with middle/high school bands and how YOU can get involved.
Letter to the Editor, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 12/31/11
Ever since the Fury 66 Reunion show to benefit Grind Out Hunger, GOH has been getting several requests by local bands to play benefit concerts of their own. Many of these are local middle school and high school bands, with the occasional bigger bands such as I Don’t Wanna Hear It. Grind Out Hunger is first and foremost about empowering the youth. Any band that approaches us wanting to use their music to make a difference in their community will be immediately welcomed.
Almost Chaos, a big supporter of Grind Out Hunger, which was not stated in letter to the editor above, is only one of the many bands playing music to support the cause. The members of the band are quickly moving forward in their musical careers and are supporting our cause every step of the way. These kids have immense talent and if you havent had a chance to listen to them yet, be sure to.
We recently had a benefit show at Aptos Christian Fellowship Church where several high school bands played including; Rat Trap, Bell Thieves, Funk Faction, and Otis and the Fascist Bagels. Blue Weekend was scheduled to headline this event, but unfortunately had to back out at the last minute due to a sick band member. We approached them later after the show and asked if they would be willing to play a private show at the Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop to benefit Grind Out Hunger. Amped on the idea, they said yes. We are in discussion with them about a date and time. Stay tuned for more info. You aren’t going to want to miss this show.
If you are in a band and want to arrange/chat about setting up a benefit show please send an email to: SHAWN HATJES
Gazing out from the stage in the school’s Assembly Room, 15 second grade students stood and collectively asked the assembled audience some objective questions: “What if you only had one meal a day, could you be happy? Could you concentrate in school? Probably not,” they answered. “Your stomach would ache, your head would hurt and your heart would be broken.”
The audience, Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) 6th through 12th graders, listened quietly. “One in four children in Santa Cruz County doesn’t have enough to eat,” the second graders continued. “What did you have for breakfast and lunch? Will you have dinner tonight? Many in our community will not.”
Like many local schools, MMS is participating in the Second Harvest Food Bank’s “Grind Out Hunger” program, with students, faculty and staff urged to reach into their pantries and donate food to feed those less fortunate.
“Children in Santa Cruz County need our help,” comments 7-year-old Grace Timan.
“People are suffering,” adds classmate Ben Pearson.
“We are fortunate; we have food so we should help others,” says Addy Catterall-Pendleton.
“We want everyone here at MMS to be kind and give a donation,” urges Bryce Adams.
Following a recent presentation by Shawn Hatjes, an MMS alumnus who now works with the Grind Out Hunger program, the second grade adopted the food drive as part of their class’s social service curriculum, says second-grade teacher Jenni Leach.
The class learned about hunger in the community from the Second Harvest website, and practiced their math skills in referencing statistics from Second Harvest’s 2010 Hunger Survey. The students designed posters based on what they had learned to encourage donating on the MMS campus. They wrote letters to their 6th grade big buddies about why each person should donate to Grind Out Hunger. The second grade then created a class four-paragraph essay about the needs of the local community, the Grind Out Hunger program, MMS’ history of giving; and how the students can give more this year. The second graders presented their essay to the Mount Madonna’s middle and high school students to enlist their participation with the effort, too.
“According to Second Harvest ‘2010 Hunger Survey,’ some 17,000 people per week in Santa Cruz County are served food through the bank’s program, up from 12,000 in 2006,” notes Leach. “That is about 885,000 people a year needing food in this county!”
People wishing to contribute to MMS’ collection for Grind Out Hunger can bring up donations of canned and boxed foods. Monetary donations are also welcome – for every one dollar donated, Second Harvest is able to purchase three pounds of food from local farmers and vendors. Mount Madonna’s participation in the food drive continues until Thanksgiving.
Grind Out Hunger was started in 2003 by Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop owner Danny Keith, as a way to inspire kids to get involved with helping other kids in the community who didn’t have enough to eat. “He is one compassionate skateboarder,” says the second grade class.
MMS 2nd Grade Class presents Grind Out Hunger to Middle and High School Students
Grind Out Hunger Program Coordinator, Shawn Hatjes, with MMS 2nd Grade class after presentation.
Carolyn breaking a board. Photo Credit: Tarmo Hannula of the Register Pajaronian
POWER TO THE YOUTH!
Twin Lakes Church is a huge supporter of Grind Out Hunger and Second Harvest Food Bank. Their poundage goal this year has been set to 1,000,000 Pounds!! Each church member, including the youth, have been asked to raise $100 by the end of December. Carolyn, 11, and her brother Dakota, both black belts in Tae Kwon Do, have decided to use their experience in martial arts to help fight hunger. They both are going to break 100 wooden boards and are asking friends, family, and supporters to pledge money per board. Pledges can be made at:www.boardbreakathon.com
Grind Out Hunger will be there to document this event. Show up and show your support!
The duo will complete the Break-A-Thon Saturday October 22nd from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Twin Lakes Church Gymnasium located at 2701 Cabrillo College Drive in Aptos, California. The event will be filmed and posted on www.boardbreakathon.com and to YouTube.
Goal: $1000.00
Pledged: $2,137.00 (As of 10/22/11)
Carolyn explains: , “Going hungry hurts a lot more than breaking boards. We can do this so we will.”
Break-A-Thon to Fight Hunger
WHAT: The duo will be breaking 100 boards to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Oct. 22, 2011
WHERE: Twin Lakes Church gymnasium, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos.
GoodTimes Weekly does the Best of Santa Cruz County 2011 and Grind Out Hunger/Second Harvest Food Bank needs your vote as best non-profit. So click the image below, remember to vote for at least 10 items and lets bring home a gold!!
Vote Grind Out Hunger/Second Harvest Food Bank Best of Santa Cruz County 2011
Its amazing what the youth can do when empowered. What started out 7 years ago as a way to teach kids altruism and compassion for their community has turned into a full blown spectacle. The goal for 2010 Grind Out Hunger campaign in Santa Cruz County was 250,000 pounds almost double 2009′s raise of 130,000 pounds.
This year was a bit different, Grind Out Hunger added a new partner with Skateworks Skateshop
Bill Strubing of Skateworks Skateshop
to combine forces with Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, Jimbo Phillips Graphix and 102.5 KDON. 2010 for Grind Out Hunger was by far the craziest it has ever been, with the need to feed kids up more than ever and the students buckling down and getting serious about rising to the challenge.
St Francis came and helped at Santa Cruz County Fair
It all started with the Santa Cruz County Fair and education days collecting over 3000 pounds, great start to a busy year.
Then the speaking tour began, St Francis High, Aptos Jr. High, Cabrillo College, Gateway Elementary, Happy Valley Elementary, Lakeview Middle School, Santa Cruz High, Salesian Elementary and the list goes on.
3D Constructions Dominic Cusimano is a madman!
3D Constructions Dominic Cusimano and Jesse Gullings Painting spent over a month building ramps at Second Harvest Food Bank so that Grind Out Hunger could do the 1st Annual Skateathon sponsored by Rotary Interact at Twin Lakes Church raking in over 13,000 pounds of food and giving away a 1999 Red Mustang (WHAT!).
1st Annual Skateathon at Twin Lakes Church raised 13,000 pounds of food
That led to Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz stepping up and throwing down the 1st annual SkateJam presented by Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz and Rotary Interact (see the theme here?) both of these events were peppered by rain but it did not deter the kids from coming out and skating while donating food to a great cause.
Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz and The Skate Jam
It seemed that the kids were on a roll, school after school was smashing their previous years raise and setting new standards, gauntlets were being thrown down and some claims of who was beating who at what were circulating around feverishly as no one wanted to be left behind on this one. With $1800 in gift certificates up for grabs from Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop, here are your 2010 Grind Out Hunger Champions!
The 2010 Grind Out Hunger Heavy Weight Champion was Monterey Coast Preparatory, Sinda Merritt and her students really set the bar raising over 21,000 pounds of food!! This amazing group of angels were relentless in their pursuit of raising food for kids putting the goal well ahead of themselves. Over the last three years with Grind Out Hunger, Sinda and crew have pulled in just under 40,000 pounds of food…not bad for 25 kids (do the math thats 1600 pounds per student!) Monterey Coast Prep takes home $600 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
These kids got creative capping off their drive with "FREE" gift wrapping that raised thousands of dollars!
St Francis Central Coast Catholic High School, John Marheineke and the students invited Grind Out Hunger to come speak at their campus. Just over 200 kids attend the school and had barely participated in the food drive in years past. This was the 1st stop for 2010 Grind Out Hunger, you could feel the energy from the kids and they were pumped up. When asked what their goal was, the students blurted out “8000 POUNDS”…later when speaking with John he was obviously worried, “How in the world are we going to do that??”. In reality it didn’t matter if they did, the fact was they had a goal, were focused and no matter what they would give it 100%. Grind Out Hunger is proud to say that the students and staff not only hit the 8000 pounds they passed it. Congrats on the 10,001 pounds!!!!! St Francis Central Coast Catholic High School skates away with $600 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
St Francis Central Coast Catholic High School sold 10 Grind Out Hunger skate decks totaling 3000 pounds!
Aptos Jr. High was a veteran of 2009 Grind Out Hunger and they lost no time is establishing that 2010 was going to be a record breaker. Brian Saxton and his students proceeded to make challenges, prizes and selling hot cocoa…whatever it took to hit 10,000 pounds. Well…Aptos Jr. High not only did that they went to a whopping 11,662 pounds. Aptos Jr. High pulls a repeat and wheels away $300 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
Aptos Jr. High presents a check to Grind Out Hunger for $3500 or 10,500 pounds!
Gateway Elementary is also no stranger to the Grind Out Hunger challenge. The staff and students here always get creative and focus on the end goal of feeding kids. The presentation at Gateway is always fun as the kids are so inquisitive about how the food gets distributed, what kind of food can they bring in and how much more the dollar actually allows the purchase of healthy nutritious food. Thank goodness this is our future at work, its apparent that if we continue to provide altruistic ways for the youth of today to participate, society will become a better place. Gateway Elementary dropped 6,545 pounds into the barrels and captured 1st place for Elementary schools. Gateway Elementary slashes its way to $300 in gift certificates to Skateworks Skateshop and Santa Cruz Skate and Surf Shop.
Gateway students are always excited when Grind Out Hunger starts up!
At the end of it all, the youth in all their amazingness (is that a word?) managed to roll right by the 250,000 pound number, sliding in at a cool 278,616 pounds setting a new record and firmly placing the youth of Santa Cruz County as the 3rd largest contributor to the Second Harvest Holiday Food Drive 2.1 million pound goal. It is impressive the direction that Grind Out Hunger is going and there is some amazing news on the horizon for this kid powered charity so stay tuned! Below is a list of the winners of the 2010 Grind Out Hunger Challenge with a full list of schools…is your school involved? If not email HERE and get involved.
Award Division
Pounds of food raised
School Name
Heavy Weight Winner
21,001
Monterey Coast Preparatory
High School Winner
10,281
St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High
Jr. High School Winner
11,662
Aptos Junior High School
Elementary School Winner
6,545
Gateway Elementary School
Here is a total showing of all 2010 Grind Out Hunger schools, the 1st line is a total of all events like skate jams, online cash donations and anonymous donors. This year was a 1st for the colleges UCSC and Cabrillo College to participate in Grind Out Hunger. Both of these campuses are like small cities with over 40,000 students and staff between them its obvious that the partnership with higher education has some incredible possibilities!
Pounds of food raised
School Name
99,774
Grind Out Hunger events (skatejams etc)
47,027
UCSC students
21,001
Monterey Coast Preparatory
11,662
Aptos Junior High School
10,281
St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High
6,545
Gateway School
6,127
Cabrillo College – Aptos Campus
6,027
Monte Vista Christian Middle School
5,683
Shoreline Middle School
5,069
Salesian Elementary & Junior High
4,960
Monterey Bay Academy
4,731
Rio Del Mar Elementary School
4,592
Aptos High School
3,245
Watsonville High School
3,168
La Selva Beach Community School
2,830
Soquel High School
2,487
Mission Hill Middle School
2,356
Brook Knoll Elementary School
1,821
H.A. Hyde Elementary
1,585
Landmark Elementary
1,560
Valencia Elementary School
1,532
Lakeview Middle School
1,512
Santa Cruz High School
1,320
Ceiba Charter School
1,181
Soquel Elementary School
1,156
Pajaro Middle School
1,112
Alianza Charter School
1,056
De Laveaga Elementary School
1,029
Santa Cruz Montessori School
1,019
Westlake Elementary School
1,010
Bradley Elementary
892
Radcliff Elementary School
803
Moreland Notre Dame School
791
Bayview Elementary
777
Pajaro Valley High School
753
Gault Elementary School
743
Main Street Elementary
705
Monte Vista Christian High School
672
Green Acres Elementary School
610
Harbor High School
582
Happy Valley Elementary School
561
Linscott Charter School
541
Del Mar Elementary
530
Live Oak Elementary School
503
Spring Hill Advanced Elementary School of Santa Cruz
490
Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School
485
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School
436
Aptos Academy (Elem)
416
Mt. Madonna School (Elem)
398
Green Valley Christian School
333
Mar Vista Elementary
261
Pacific Coast Charter School
250
Pacific Elementary School
229
New Brighton Middle School
221
Mountain Elementary School
197
Montessori Scotts Valley Preschool
181
Cabrillo College – Watsonville Campus
154
Neighorhood Childcare Center
140
Learning Ways Christian Preschool / Congregational Church of Soquel
131
Ocean Alternative Education Center
93
The Bay School
88
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
78
UCSC – BSU (Black Students United)
68
E.A. Hall Middle School
30
Head Start
28
Happy Days Children’s Learning Center
278,616
Total Pounds Raised 2010 Grind Out Hunger
There are also some honorable mentions of schools that made this their 1st year with Grind Out Hunger. Watch out for these schools next year!
7 years ago when Grind Out Hunger was founded, I would have never imagined that it could become such a powerful tool for the youth. As I sit here and write on this day of excitement and family gatherings aka Christmas Eve, I can only think of all of the families that will have a holiday meal because the youth of Santa Cruz County stepped up and made a dent in the overall need of Second Harvest Food Banks 2.1 Million pound goal. I started this year at St. Francis High School, John Marheineke invited me out and the students claimed “8000 pounds is our goal”…he pulled me aside and asked me if I was crazy they had never raised more than a couple hundred pounds…I said to him “watch what these kids will do”…bookend that with Monterey Coast Prep’s Sinda Merrit excerpt from Facebook chats and phone calls “Hi its Sinda, this year Monterey Coast Prep is planning to double 2009′s raise of 8000 pounds, just thought I would give you a heads up”…
Once the year kicked off I then began my rounds to schools, Monterey Bay Academy, St Francis High, Ceiba College Prep, Ocean Alternative School, Spring Hill Elementary, Aptos Jr High, Mission Hill Middle School, Santa Cruz High, Soquel High, Monte Vista Christian, Lakeview Middle School, Salesian Elementary, Gateway Elementary, Cabrillo College and there are probably more I am missing that I visited. This is not including all of the schools that participated in the Grind Out Hunger contest!! Rio Del Mar Elementary, Monterey Coast Prep, Aptos High School, Harbor High, Watsonville High, UCSC and lots more. All along the way watching as kids eyes lit up realizing their goal…
There were special events this year, Tarp Surfing came on board and raised 500 pounds, Rapid Fire donated their concert proceeds to Grind Out Hunger, 3D Construction’s Dominc Cusimano and Jesse Gullings Painting along with wood donated from Big Creek and Pro Build built a mobile skatepark allowing Grind Out Hunger to have skate events with Twin Lakes Church and Rotary Interact had the 1st Annual Skateathon as did Whole Foods Santa Cruz and Rotary Interact Skate Jam. Whole Foods Capitola held a Taste of Elegance and a few anonymous donors supported Grind Out Hunger and the youth. Home Space/Work Space did a 3 day extravaganza raising over $1000. Shawn Hatjes Photography made photo post cards and donated profits to Grind Out Hunger. Appetizer Media donated proceeds from their iPhone Game and tons of skateboards were sold this year by the schools. It seemed as if everyone in Santa Cruz County was aware of Grind Out Hunger and wanted to help.
People Magazine recognized Grind Out Hunger as an All Star Among Us which meant we got to stand at home plate during a SF Giants game and providing the chance to run some food drives in Atlanta and New Jersey which ultimately, the goal is to take Grind Out Hunger nationwide.
This was another year of press with Grind Out Hunger getting coverage in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Register Pajaronian, Aptos Times, Mid County Post, GoodTimes, Santa Cruz Weekly, The Huffington Post, People Magazine, KSBW 8, KION 46, Community TV and Santa Cruz Waves.
2010 was one of success, numerous schools went above the 10,000 pound mark while one school went above the 20,000 pound mark all skating towards the 250,000 pound goal for this year.
A full recap with poundage from each school is coming as Second Harvest is still tallying the results from all that was collected in the 2010 Grind Out Hunger campaign and I have a feeling…call it a hunch…ok I have inside info…because the youth of Santa Cruz County decided they wanted to feed kids this year I am confident we will meet that goal of 250,00 pounds.
As I close, please take a moment and recognize the youth of Santa Cruz County, their supporters, their schools and their hearts which drove them to collect as much food and cash as humanly possible to feed kids.
I also want to recognize the staff that made all of this possible at Second Harvest Food Bank, Willy Elliot-McCrea whom without I could have never gotten off the ground, Sam Neider my trusty Grind Out Hunger assistant, Bly Morales for helping me make sure I knew where I was supposed to be and snapping pics, Lisa Allyn for keeping the spreadsheet straight, Vicki Lowell for blogging it up, Clyde Kimura for handling all of those barrel pick ups at schools around the county, All of the Second Harvest Drivers that had to go into the schools and get those full barrels, Brooke Johnson for tolerating the madness of delivering ramps all over the place and blessing the use of trucks, Victor Kimura for organizing insurance coverage for the skate events, Ernesto Nieves for organizing the storage and delivery of the skate ramps, Carlos Juarez, Doug Brooks, Mark Rodriguez and Frank Hernandez for hauling and deploying ramps even in the pouring rain so kids could skate, Megan Riggs for coming out and manning the tables at the skate events and finally accounting for counting all those dollars and cents the kids donated to make our goal of 250,000 pounds. Meet the Second Harvest Staff Here I genuinely thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Enjoy the pics from this years 2010 Grind Out Hunger campaign….Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Stay tuned for a full update in 2011 as we announce the total pounds raised, the standouts that made it happen and the plans for 2011 Grind Out Hunger…
