Loren Schneider

"I'm Loren Schneider, the Value-Added Enterprise and Retail Manager at the Homeless Garden Project. Our enterprise is a "social enterprise," meaning a revenue-generating business with a mission. Our mission is to provide a path out of homelessness by providing job training, transitional employment and support services. We call our enterprise "Value-added" from an agricultural term; we "add value" to materials grown on our organic farm in our programs--flowers, herbs, fruits and more--to create over 40 products. Our goal is to bring the beauty and freshness of the farm to you in every product. I manage the Homeless Garden Project Store in downtown Santa Cruz, oversee production of all value-added products, support our trainees (folks in our transitional employment program) to learn necessary production skills, among many other things!
Our value-added products are handcrafted, artisanal products including bath teas, beeswax candles, baking mixes, seasonings, lotions and more! Working at the Homeless Garden Project has helped me to widen my understanding of the world and has shown me how great of a social impact we can all make if we work together. All proceeds from the store go toward our transitional employment program which includes job training, transitional employment and support services for folks in our community experiencing homelessness. We love being a part of the incredible Downtown Santa Cruz community, and are grateful to have the opportunity to teach people about our unique and dynamic 30+ year old nonprofit!" - Loren Schneider