Homeless Garden Project Gift Shop Opens on Pacific Ave.
As the Holiday season kicks off and Pacific Ave. swells with shoppers, it’s hard not to think of those in our community who are less fortunate. What a beautiful concept to know that while buying gifts for loved ones, you can also be giving back to the local community.
The Homeless Garden Project, which has been providing job training and transitional employment to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Santa Cruz since 1990, has moved it’s Gift Shop to Pacific Ave for the holidays. The Gift Shop, which is entirely staffed by volunteers, opened it’s doors last week at 110 Cooper St., where it will stay until Christmas Eve. After Christmas, the store with return to its usual location by Depot Park.
All of the proceeds of the sales go directly trainee payroll. So, when you buy a gift at the HGP store, you are essentially helping to pay a homeless person to learn valuable skills on the organization’s organic farm. The gifts are almost all handmade by volunteers and trainees, although some gifts, like the hand-knit scarves were donated.
The large airy space at 110 Cooper is filled with the sweet smell of potpourri, which is for sale in small satchels priced at $3. Also for sale are seven types of organic tea, grown right on the HGP farm by Natural Bridges, hand-dipped beeswax candles, herb-infused vinegars, cooking salts, organic strawberry jam, hand salves, and a whole wall full of colorful flower wreaths.
