Ceres Community Project

I am 78 years old and have problems getting around and standing for longer periods. I am now a Ceres client and have meals delivered every week.

This program has been a life saver!!! I can now eat nutritious food and enjoy it. I do not need to do to much. Since everything comes ready to eat or just a little prep like heating, etc.

The food is tasty. Some are really special, last night I had baked chicken that was perfect and for lunch today I had a great cabbage salad. If I tired to make these myself it would be exhausting and there would be a lot of waste.

Thank you all for all you do.

We were early supporters of Ceres’ mission to provide nutrient-dense food to homebound people with illness and few resources Ceres also teaches teens to cook fresh organic food that they also help grow and deliver to their client base. Their ability to fund-raise and adapt the kitchens and staff when demand increased because of the pandemic was remarkable. Ceres’ lean leadership team also successfully persuaded the CA legislature to adopt food as medicine rules for Medicaid. in addition to our annual pledge, we are also committing to their remarkably successful capital campaign, which is building a spacious modern kitchen and vegetable gardens in a community that needs them very much. We have faith in Ceres’ capability to be an effective and nimble organization and contributor to their increasing geographic area.

I was a delivery driver for this organization - the staff , food , and clients were all wonderful.
It's rare to find all organic food in any service nowadays and it was prepared by hard working all stars to heal and nurture the community

Ceres is such a well-run organization. They provide healthy, tasty organic meals to ill clients as well as their families at minimal or no cost. They also grow a portion of their organic produce. Additionally, they mentor local youth who volunteer both in the kitchen & gardens.

My wife and I have been supporters of Ceres almost from its beginning. We've seen first-hand the joy it brings to its clients who receive their lovingly prepared, health-giving meals. I know of no other community-based organization with such multi-faceted impacts. Ceres teaches its student volunteers life skills in its kitchens and gardens and the rewards of contributing to community members in need. Its clients receive not just healthy meals tailored to their medical needs, but also regular human contact with the delivery volunteers and the security of knowing there's one vital aspect of their daily lives that's under control. Beyond its community impacts, Ceres has been a leader in spreading the vital message of healthy eating and expanding government financial support for food as medicine across the country. We take great pride in supporting such an important organization.

I have known about Ceres since it’s inception in 2007. I knew Cathryn because she cooked at my partners retreats for years. Once I heard what she wanted to do with kids cooking healthy meals for people who were extremely sick and bring them healthy meals to support their journey in getting better. I was extremely moved and wanted to help in anyway I could. Money was my first choice, then working in the garden with Sara McCamant and the kids. Later in the summer we would make bouquets with flowers from the garden to put in clients food baskets every week. It was a little something extra to let the folks know that we were thinking about them and hopefully brought a smile to their faces .Ceres is a wonderful addition to our community and hopefully it will continue to grow for the next 17 years.������������

This Organization makes the most amazing medically tailored meals, filled with the best healthy Ingredients, and lots of love. Their commitment to our community is unwavering. We are so lucky to have Ceres around here.

I’ve been involved with a few non-profits and there aren’t many that can be as successful as Ceres. It not only provides healthy nutritional meals to sick and needy clients, but it also allows for a wonderful training ground for young students who learn the particulars of working together to perform a useful service. From employees to volunteers, the ability to put the client first and treat each other with respect is a precious thing. Many claim those values, but few actually provide them as well as Ceres.

I have used the cookbooks from Ceres extensively . Food is medicene. I was sick for the entire year this past year. Flus, Covid twice, pnuemonia then two severe experiences with diverticulitis. My immune system could not recover. I went back to my Ceres cookbook which I have used for years and focused on healthy eating and rebuilding strength. I am 71. It's worked I can swim for 45 minutes daily now, pains are almost gone, I have energy for longer periods of time and my mood which is normally cheerful has returned. Ceres has tought me a great deal about the critical importance and appreciation of nutrition. I fell this year thier work and wisdome over these many years saved my life.

I had a friend who was receiving Ceres food and I was so impressed with the quality that I knew I wanted to be part of it. I started volunteering first as a food deliveries because I was taking care of my mother. After she passed, I started working in food preparation and making sauerkraut and broth herb-vege packets. I love that they teach teenagers to cook and garden and about nutrition.

The people I encountered helped carry me through one of the toughest times in my life as I was fighting cancer. I didn't have the energy to cook daily meals, but the meals Ceres provided not only were delicious, but helped my body fight the cancer.

Ceres is a wonderful example of working and helping not only the clients we serve but training students so the work will be carried forward. I am always impressed by everyone’s integrity and careful execution of all their duties.

Ceres provides nutritional foods for an important segment of our population plus education for our teens

Ceres is such a caring and responsible nonprofit devoted to caring for some of the most needy people in our community who others can't effectively serve. My partner was a client with advanced canner, our children worked in the Ceres kitchen and my wife and I volunteered as much as we could.

As a volunteer, I was part of preparing ingredients to be used in the meals, followed research based and chef created recipes to make meals, mentored teens in preparing and packaging meals, and worked in the Sebastopol organic garden. Meals were delivered by volunteers directly to people who are homebound with serious illnesses. It is my understanding that this mission has expanded to people who are food insecure.I also mentored teens who were part of a grant-funded program wherein they taught elementary school children what constituted healthy food, how to use kitchen utensils safely, how to follow recipes and prepare dishes in after school programs. During Sonoma county fires, kitchens opened early for the chefs and volunteers to prepare meals that were delivered to evacuees. And all of this was executed with professionalism,, and passion for the mission. Due to my own health issues, I am no longer able to volunteer, but I continue to support this amazing organization though monthly donations.

I’m a widower 75 yrs old who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. If I had any chance to recover I knew my diet would be a major issue. I called Ceres and explained my issues. Immediately they sprang into action, contacted my Doctor, researched my situation and within days acted. Ceres fed me for almost 9 months. They saved my life and asked nothing in return.
God bless the people of Ceres.

When I signed up for meals to support my health during 6 months of chemotherapy, I had no idea how many "extras" would be included - each delivery had something beautiful added to the meal delivery: some flowers, a lovely art card made by volunteers, some ginger tincture to help with the nausea, and a warm and caring smile on the face of the delivery person. Meals were healthy and tasty, and I believe they contributed to my cancer recovery, both in terms of nutritional value and the time I didn't have to spend figuring out what I might be able to eat and how to create those meals. I'm grateful to Ceres and support their mission wholeheartedly.

Extremely effective, creative, generous and caring nonprofit. Builds teen leadership skills through teaching how to grow and cook healthy organic food, serves lower-income adults with medically-tailored meals and organic groceries, partners with other organizations to expand its reach. I’ve volunteered with them for several years and have been very impressed with their mission and how they meet it. Highly recommended!

After my brain tumor surgeries, Ceres was a great help to me, providing nutritious meals to my doorstep delivered by cheerful people. I had no income at the time and no one who could shop for me, nor could I leave the house, so their meal were a god send!

Both of my kids volunteered with this organization and it taught them so much about food, gardening, and community building. We are very grateful that they had the chance to work with such a great organization.

My partner went thru a bout of seizures a year ago and Ceres was instrumental in keeping her health up by supplying nutritious meals while she recovered. I can't say enough about the service they provided her, and how much Ceres means to so many folks with health issues, in health recovery, and the reaching out to younger folks to be involved. We're VERY fortunate to have Ceres in our community, and now reaching out even further - THANK you to all of the Ceres Community!
- Mark Wiley, Sebastopol CA

Ceres community project is a fantastic organization.
I was a delivery angel for them several years ago and saw how much clients appreciated the food and the extra touches of flowers or a handwriitten card from a school kid.
The youth volunteers at Ceres are learning wonderful life skills for their futures.

I've been volunteering at Ceres for about 12 years.. I greatly appreciate and admire what they stand for.. I've done a number of different jobs over the years including kitchen help, reception, fund raising etc.. All are rewarding and my supervisors are very appreciative.

I’ve been a volunteer in the Ceres Community Project kitchens since 2016. I believe in its mission of feeding healthy food to our neighbors with acute and chronic diseases. I also feel Ceres is a well run organization that constantly innovates and is fiscally responsible. My husband and I have been regular donors over the years and recently made a larger donation to Ceres’ Capital Campaign to support its new headquarters in Santa Rosa.

I volunteer prepping and cooking meals for clients.

I can't sing the praises of Ceres Community Project loudly enough or with enough passion. I'm a solo parent who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the midst of the pandemic, before vaccines were available. My daughter took a leave of absence from college so I wouldn't have to go into assisted living after my surgeries. Because I was unable to use my arms, she was thrust into head of household and caretaker, all while processing what it meant that her only parent had cancer. To say having an organic meal daily for us both delivered with care by Ceres volunteers was a Godsend is an understatement. It gave her a bit of space to take an out-breath, to have time to feel and receive. For me, I was relieved she was getting a break and the knowing there were people nearby who had been through cancer and understood. The food was delicious and nutritious, and easy to digest. It was a loving salve during a very stressful time. We are forever grateful.

I was never a recipient of Ceres’ meals, but I did volunteer as a “Delivery Angel.” I loved being called an angel! And that’s really how those who needed the meals responded to getting them. They were of all ages and conditions, but they were all united in one thing: they were so appreciative of the quality of the meals, the personal touches like flowers and notes, and the visit to deliver. Ceres’ work is indispensable.

Last November I was diagnosed with an uncommon aggressive uterine cancer. I'm 72, and had a hysterectomy 3 weeks after the diagnosis. The day after I returned from the hospital, I started receiving 7 meals a week 8 weeks. The priceless gift of lovingly prepared, delicious, healthy, organic, gluten free meals, delivered with care to my door, along with menus, recipes, notes and loving touches like hearts, cards and gifts, often made by children, was SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART of my HEALING!!!! Sometimes the gratitude I felt while eating a Ceres meal brought tears to my eyes, as I took in the gift of nourishment imbued with love, and I am thriving today, with much heartfelt thanks to Ceres!

Ceres is such a wonderful organization to volunteer for. They are organized, responsive and do amazing work for our community. Every client I deliver to expresses their gratitude. They are thrilled with the quality and beauty of the food that will be nourishing their bodies. I have volunteered for many non profits for 40 years and Ceres is the best organization I have volunteered for, bar none. I was so enthusiastic about driving for Ceres, my husband also signed up to drive and he loves it!

I'm a 73 year old female with several health issues that leave me isolated and unable to easily get out to the grocery store. My caregiver found out about Ceres from another client and I'm so grateful for the referral!
The prepared food that I receive weekly is amazing! Way better than anything could makr for myself on the (very old and malfunctioning) stove in my tiny kitchen.
The different recipes have sparked my interest and a new desire to try to learn how to make these kinds of meals for myself!
I'm so grateful to all the volunteers - the teens who actually cook these amazing delicious meals and the adults who supervise them and package and deliver the food bags weekly.
This is such a gift!

I first learned of Ceres as a community resource years ago when it was started, and I loved the idea of teaching teens to cook nourishing meals for sick people. During covid I started delivering meals and after being vaccinated I started working in the kitchen. Recently I got meals for a short time after cancer surgery. Now I am back working in the kitchen. It’s a great organization to volunteer with and their work is critical for people who need it!

Ceres is a true gem. This organization provides mentorship to teens who learn to make wholesome organic meals that are then delivered to the doorstep of families struggling with severe illness. I simultaneously can't believe Ceres exists AND can't believe more organizations aren't modeling themselves after Ceres. Keep up the great work!

I've been a weekly volunteer for Ceres for 2 and half years and it has been a wonderful experience. It's a dedicated and happy group of staff and volunteers who are doing important work for the members of our community who are ill. And they have a terrific programs for teens at the local high school to get community service hours. The teens work in the garden, help prepare food and learn about what's necessary for a group like ours to succeed in our mission.

I learned about Ceres and it's mission from my grandson, Rowan, when he joined as a volunteer about 10 years ago. He worked in the garden, as well as their kitchen in Sebastopol and became a teen chef volunteer. Ceres would be a wonderful non-profit just for delivering healthy meals to patients with health issues, but they become an absolutely stellar one because they have included young people in their mission and gave them an opportunity to learn skills, responsibility and how good food translates into good health. Personally, I've been unable to volunteer for them in person, but they are #1 in getting whatever finance support I can afford. Even if you don't need their food deliveries, their cookbook is an excellent resource for caregivers. And now, they have a group of teens that created their own curriculum and will be taking the message of healthy eating to schools. Ceres is simply amazing!

The nutritionist at Marin Cancer Care I connected me with Ceres to see if it would help me gain back the 20 pounds I lost since I started treatment i’m finally starting to gain some weight, and I am extremely grateful to all involved.

Having breast cancer and enduring chemotherapy and radiation treatment is hard enough, but going through it during a pandemic is even harder. It means a trip to the grocery store is out of the question, so getting nourishing food delivered with a smile to your house makes all the difference and allows patients the ability to focus on getting better without worrying about meal prep when they are immunocompromised, tired, and stressed. Great organization!

I volunteered as a nutritional consultant many years ago when Ceres was first getting started. Then several years later I was diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer and Ceres came to my aid with wonderful, nutrient rich organic meals. This organization has grown by leaps and bounds and not only grows, prepares and delivers healthy meals to people with chronic and serious health issues, but engages youth in the community to learn about food as medicine, work in the gardens, take leadership positions in the kitchen. This list goes on. Now Ceres has been a seed organization for a number of similar projects around the country. I just donated some of my pottery to the upcoming auction and will continue to contribute to this organization - our community would not be the same without Ceres.

Ceres grows, prepares, and delivers free healthy organic meals with love for people in our community who are facing serious medical challenges. They also mentor teens from our community by teaching them to grow and prepare the healthy food that Ceres distributes. Ceres is a huge asset to our community. I highly recommend supporting this non-profit.

When I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer Ceres Community Project really came through for me. I was living off the beaten path in Occidental and had very little support. Cancer treatments were exhausting - to exhausting to shop/cook/clean. Thanks to a nurse, who recommended that I contact the good people at Ceres Community Project, I was able to enjoy the most delicious and healthy meals I could have imagined - made with care. What a remarkable organization which anticipates the struggle of chronically ill people and provides the most fundamental healing balm - healthy food delivered to my door. I will be forever grateful for this heart-centered organization.

I was diagnosed with cancer late last year and my energy was waning fast when a very kind neighbor turned me on to Ceres. Their delicious and healthy food really helped me get through that initial period. Now I’m heading into a more aggressive treatment phase that may leave me requiring more of their meals. Thanks so much to all who contribute to this wonderful organization -Michael D.

I recently began volunteering in the beautiful gardens at Ceres and it has enriched my life so much already. This organization is true community in action. Feeding people healthy meals when they need it the most during illness, is an incredible mission. Ceres makes it happen and it’s very inspiring to be a part of this organization!

Ceres is a great nonprofit that specializes in cooking healthy meals for people in need or battling cancer. It helps many people improve their eating habits and overall nutrition. I love it because it welcomes volunteers from varying ages.

Ceres manages to do a lot with just a little support ! They provide nutritious and healthy meals to people with illnesses and conditions that restrict their ability to shop and cook for themselves. A friend worked their and absolutely loved the mission and dedication of the staff and volunteers. They are absolutely deserving of more support, be it financial or volunteers.

I have been volunteering with the Marin Ceres location for several years. I started as a "delivery angel" which was a very special and fulfilling role, delivering beautiful meals to very appreciative clients. For the last 3+ years I have been an adult volunteer in the kitchen. It's an amazing, efficient, fun-filled space every week. Ceres is a highlight in my life!

The ceres Project makes up and delivers fresh, healthy and diverse to my done every week. He is diabetic, dairy intolerant and has intellectual delay related to his autism.
Although he has 24/7 caregivers, it is difficult for them prepare appropriate meals for him on top of their other duties to care for him.
Ceres has taken care of the appropriate meal preparation and he loves the food. He has gone step towards his self care by heating them in his microwave. So the Ceres Project has helped us on many levels. They have even secured funding through MediCal him.
In appreciation, I have become a monthly donor.
There’s nothing better than Ceres!!

Ceres is such an amazing organization in my community. When I was in elementary school, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and my family received meals from Ceres every week. Ceres not only brought handmade meals into our home, but also kindness and love when we needed it most. Ceres made such a positive impact on my family that once I was old enough to volunteer, I began volunteering in the kitchen and the garden. Volunteering was such an amazing experience for me in high school and taught me so many valuable things about cooking, gardening, nutrition, leadership, community, and more. I cherish every moment that I spent with Ceres and am so grateful for the impact that their organization has on my community.

Its a pleasure to work with these well organized and cheerful people. I spend about 1.5 hours a week bagging food that will be distributed to those in need. I enjoy the opportunity of working with like minded people in helping others.

My teenage son volunteers for Ceres. He just became a Teen Leader. After picking him up one night, he told me that a previous client visited them to speak about how she felt receiving food from Ceres. He said, "I know what we are doing is great, but now it feels epic."

After surviving a horrific surgery I underwent 9 months of chemotherapy and even with strong support from friends and family, it was the Ceres program that made a huge difference in my daily life. The healthful, nurturing foods delivered with such grace by volunteers sustained me, and I believe hastened my recovery. And now, many years later, it has been my privilege to volunteer both as a Delivery Angel and guest speaker to the fantastic teen volunteers both in the kitchens and the garden. The Ceres program is successful in several equally important areas. Firstly of course they are of service to individuals and families during a time of great need, providing meals that nourish both the body and spirit. Then there are the teen volunteers who learn skills in the kitchen and garden while enjoying the companionship of their teens but perhaps even more importantly experience the value of service to people in need. The third level is the opportunity for adults in the community and previous clients like myself to volunteer and feel like we can give something of great value back to our community. And lastly is the educational component so vital for recovering clients as they move forward cooking their own delicious meals. Ceres is truly an amazing organization on so many levels. It is a great blessing to our community and a sound model for the rest of the country.

I’m a high school student volunteering there and the staffs and other volunteers were really nice and helpful since my first day there, so if you’re one of those people in Sonoma County who are hesitating to volunteer, you should volunteer.
What I consider to be most impressive is the student advisory; the advisory have a voice when it comes to running the organization, and it shows that teens can also help make the world a better place.

Ceres was undoubtedly one of the keys to not just my survival of cancer treatments but also my thriving afterwards. It started with nourishing food in the moment I needed it most but led to life changing habits that continue on years later. I owe so much to Ceres!

Ceres is a heart centered organization. It touches so many people from so many different walks of life and helps them through difficult times. Teens are at the core of the program, giving them a positive place in the community. My son and daughter participated in the program years ago. Now one is a successful business woman and the other just built a bakery, which he calls the BreadBike, a CSB- Community Supported Bakery. I know their self confidence and skills were helped by their time at Ceres

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is June 2020 when I was 24. With a dangerously low immune system I avoided grocery stores because of the pandemic. I had family members helping me out a ton but once I started receiving meals from Ceres so much weight was lifted from both myself and my care takers. I didn’t have to put the energy into making meals on the harder days, and the weekly interaction with volunteers at my doorstep brightened my week. There was always variety in the meals I was receiving and at the time of chemotherapy the soups were everything! I always got a little card, note or some flowers in my weekly bag which never failed to make my day. I still have the cards that I was given as a reminder of the love and care I was receiving at such a challenging time. I couldn't be more grateful that Ceres Project was available to me and my family. I think what they have to offer as a nonprofit makes an incredible difference in each of their clients lives. Thank you Ceres!!!!

I first learned about the Ceres Community Project the day I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. I lived alone and was facing surgery and radiation treatment without much boots on the ground support. I contacted Ceres and was swept up by their kindness and their very practical service of providing meals during a time when my body was weak and the ability to cook for myself was hit or miss. I was grateful that they provided me with nutritious and delicious meals. The kind of meals that truly support healing and rebuild immunity. More than just providing meals, I could feel the care and compassion that went into the preparation of these meals. I was gladdened by the thought that there was a team of young people and adults who, without knowing me, supported my healing and well being. It was a time of great sadness for me and a lot of fear, but the one thing I could count on was a weekly delivery of love in the form of delicious food. I had a few dietary restrictions which they completely honored. The gentleman who delivered the food to me was always so kind. I really cannot put into words how deeply I was affected by this organization. Their concept, the care, the contributions to our community are of the highest order. I will be forever grateful.

Getting two separate cancers diagnosed in one year is tough enough. Trying to prepare healthy meals when I was so sick and weak from chemo was certainly challenging and near impossible. Thank god for Ceres!! Not only did their food meet my dietary needs of organic vegetarian non gluten meals, they were absolutely delicious and of the highest quality! And what a relief from financial stress that it was delivered at my door for free!! This organization is a major community asset and I’m so grateful for all they did for me, including the cheery handmade notes from children that lifted my spirits so much.
I can’t say enough good things about Ceres!

My husband had an accident and had to relearn how to eat. Ceres meals were wonderful as they are easy to heat up and accommodated his nutritional requirements. They are also well balanced and delicious. There’s was always a thoughtful note for his recovery included. We truly appreciate this service

CERES was there for me back when I was recovering from cancer treatment. After that I volunteered in the garden and worked with the youth. I have seen how they help those with medical needs and provide a great opportunity for the high school kids to have a positive experience in helping others.

I work at Ceres community Project, and I can honestly say that everyone who works here is so passionate about our mission and healing the community through organic, healthy, medically-tailored food. Everyone that you encounter at Ceres is so incredibly kind, and I hear that from clients and volunteers as well! I am so proud to be a part of this organization.

Ceres is where direct  hands-on action is with multiple purposes, from teaching youth how to garden, cook to getting adults to socialize and volunteer in social networks to help feed those who are in need. I have received Ceres help after my open heart surgery for 6 months. They feed me healthy, hearty meals. I am so grateful, they are da best!

I cannot imagine a better humanitarian cause which meets my principles of health, nutrition, lowering malnutrition ( and all it's disease related effects).
It also brings education, inspiration and gardening skills to volunteers and beyond.
I just wish it had a venue that could staff more folks that want to help champion the cause.
(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

My dream is that they could be as vast and extensive as the Redwood Empire Food Bank!(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)

I've had the pleasure and honor of being on both sides of the spectrum (receiving services and volunteering) I only wish I could do more.
A thousand thanks to you all and more power to you!(ʘᴗʘ✿)

My son worked as a teen chef at Ceres and learned so very much. I also have a friend who received meals from Ceres. The quality of the people, the food, the nourishment and the community are outstanding. This is a singularly wonderful organization, providing much needed services with professionalism, compassion and love.

Have volunteered with this organization for many years as it has grown and expanded its impact. From sustaining health and increasing nutrition to building self esteem and reinforcing positive values, Ceres is improving lives and crating a better future.

My wife Marcia was diagnosed with kidney cancer in November 2012. Before she perished the following June, Ceres was exceptional in providing healthy, balanced meals in a responsible, timely manner that comforted her and eased the demands on our household. It's a nearly insurmountable challenge task to earn trust at a time of unimaginable frustration, but Ceres rose to that echelon and beyond by doing what they do with compassion and conscientious caring.

I worked as a teen volunteer with Ceres from 2015-2018 and absolutely loved the experience! Besides being a leader in our community advocating and providing for clients with illnesses, Ceres places such an emphasis on helping teens develop into caring and capable people. All the adults working with me in the kitchen made me feel listened to and loved, and I came away from the experience with valuable life skills that continue to serve me today! I wholeheartedly believe that every teen deserves to have an experience like I did at Ceres, as it helped foster my confidence and connect me to my community. Now, 2 years later, I was lucky to return to Ceres as a summer intern, where my love for the organization was reinforced. Coming back as a young adult, it is clear that Ceres' care for its youth volunteers is strong and ongoing.

We love it❣️ I recibe more than food through my cancer treatment. This amazing center makes me feels care and loved in one of my hardest times. Thank you!
Gracias por su amor ������������������

I am on the board of another nonprofit from a different area that provides meals to those going through serious health challenges, so I don't directly receive support from or volunteer for Ceres Community Project. We do however hold up Ceres Community Project as an example of best in class, and review their newsletter and other communications for emulation to increase our own success. They are an amazing organization whose giving stretches far beyond their own community!

Most amazing program. They spoiled my mom while she was beating cancer. Everything from the food to the wonderful people who would visit/deliver to her were just the beast! Couldn’t be more grateful for them.

The best thing that happen to me when I was going thru chemotherapy. I fell care and pampered with this amazing food.

One of the best organizations I have ever donated to. Ever. That's why my wife and I have been donating every month for the last four years. They assist some of the people most in need in our area while making teens a central part of that solution. Wholistic. Connected. Brilliant. Caring. I am proud to say that I am a regular donor.

My husband and I volunteer at the Marin kitchen doing prep work once a week. Everything about our experience is positive. Our chefs are so devoted to our clients well-being and to our teen and adult volunteers. It is rewarding to work with people who love good food and respect the benefits of good nutrition. All of us working together, doing something we love and makes such a positive difference in the lives of our clients. We also deliver meals and our clients are so very appreciative and grateful for Ceres. Small touches like personalized note cards and flowers for our clients add extra meaningfulness. I love this place!

Ceres is the most impactful organization I have ever worked with. Not only are the people at Ceres so purely dedicated to improving the lives of the community members we serve, but as a volunteer, I've never experienced a nonprofit so well-run and so committed to providing an environment of learning, support, and kindness to its volunteers. Ceres ignited my love for cooking, and is the reason I chose to pursue a career in nutrition and sustainable food systems. Hearing the stories and meeting some of the clients who have benefited from Ceres's work truly changed my world view and embedded in me a sense of empathy that has shaped the way I navigate all of my relationships.

Our time receiving your gifts each week of delicious, healthy food is coming to a close.
We are so grateful for the weekly delivery of food, for the kind and loving volunteers who deliver each week and the delicious recipes you have shared.

As my husband battles Multiple Myeloma, I feel empowered to continue cooking in this
way, and happy that my husband has transitioned to mostly vegan over these past six
months. No sugar, no salt and no oil, no meat and dairy (with occasional slips here and there)
I, too, have improved my health and find all my aches and pains have subsided.

I am grateful beyond my ability to say, for the love and caring that has entered our lives
in the form of your food, during this difficult and painful experience of cancer. This has been
one of the most positive, life affirming experiences in both of our lives. Cannot rate you highly enough.

Love to everyone at Ceres and gratitude always,
Sincerely,

I’ve been volunteering with Ceres about 8 months. I assist with food prep in the Sebastopol kitchen and have helped with food prep for a few fundraising events.

Everyone I’ve encountered — from Ceres’ staff to fellow volunteers— has been kind, appreciative and welcoming.

Ceres is a wonderful, well-run nonprofit that provides a much-needed service to community members facing a serious illness. I encourage teens and adults who are seeking a positive, fun volunteer opportunity to check out Ceres.

I’m a 73 year old retired man with an extensive background in various kitchen positions. Cooking has been an avocation for 50 years or more.
I’ve been volunteering as a kitchen mentor for 4 months now at the Sebastopol kitchen working with teens who could be out and about enjoying their brief summer break but who have chosen to volunteer their time.
The healthy meals these dedicated teens produce and the skills they exercise benefit many needs of individuals and families in our community.

As a parent of a teen volunteer, I cannot speak highly enough about the Ceres program. My 16 year old son has been working in the kitchen for the past 1 1/2 years and loves it! Ceres is a phenomenal place for teens to learn the value of teamwork. It empowers them to step into leadership roles; learn what constitutes a healthy balanced diet; and master the skills to prepare those meals for themselves. Best of all, Ceres teaches teens empathy and shows them how they can give back in a meaningful way to their community. My son's passion for Ceres has inspired his younger sister to start volunteering there this fall.

I am a delivery angel, delivering meals to most appreciative clients and also a volunteer container sterilizer team member. I have watched firsthand how organic meals are prepared in the ultra clean kitchen and have interacted with teens as they learn all aspects of preparing meals. The chefs, teens, employees, and volunteers all work together in an amazing and friendly atmosphere. I love Ceres and their whole philosophy of healthy meals for healing.

What a wonderful resource to have in our community. Ceres is an incredible place where people from various backgrounds come together to provide amazingly healthy meals for people in need. My daughter has been working in the kitchen for a year and truly loves it. She was just telling her younger brother how cool it is to learn to cook. What a gift Ceres is.

Great place, good mission, amazing staff. I have been volunteering for about 7 months and have enjoyed it thoroughly!

Ceres is, simply stated, one of the most remarkable groups I've encountered in a life-time of volunteering and 'being of service.' It is indisputably a huge, virtual lifesaver, for many of its clients who are survivors of life-threatening cancers and other dis-eases. But as if that weren't amazing enough, it teaches teens the joy and value of giving, unconditionally to others, while also training on a usable skill of cooking, kitchen, and service work. Everyone who comes into contact with this fantastic organization is greatly enhanced.

Couldn't speak more highly of it.

B Gabriel

Going through chemotherapy is a trying, difficult experience, especially since I live alone. Knowing that I would have excellent healthy meals from Ceres each week was a ray of sunshine beaming through that storm. Two years later, it still stands out.
Gary Parodi

I have delivered nutritious beautiful food to grateful clients every week for 7 years. The healing I bring with me blesses all of us in a myriad of ways. I'm especially moved by the practice of engaging teens who grow and prepare the food with such love. It transfers to the clients.

I am currently taking CERES nutrition classes in Sonoma Valley Health Center and I am fascinated by the knowledge, experience and practicality of the instructors. They thought me so much about healthy eating and healing through food in 1 hour than I have known in years. I can’t say enough about this program.Thank you.

Ceres Community Project is beyond just an important and beloved local organization providing nutritious meals for those suffering from life-altering illnesses. They are also serving as a model and leading advocate for "food as medicine", an exciting national movement that is working with health care insurers, providers and hospitals to explore how providing targeting nutrition to patients can improve outcomes and bring down health care costs.

Additionally, by having teen volunteers be a focus in the program, they are helping to motivate a new generation to actively participate in the care and well being of others. They're an inspiration to our community and increasingly to the rest of the country (and even internationally!).

There is nothing worse than being sick and hungry. I have been a advocate for Ceres since 2016. It is a rare organization that can create better health for people, communities and the plant. They accomplish this by teaching youth in our community (about 500 teens a year) to help nourish people (over 100,000 meals) facing health crisis by growing preparing and delivering nutritious food to those with serious illnesses.

The long term impact is that as Ceres live their values, these values become part of the teens DNA and we create the next generation of leaders.

I recently joined the Board of Ceres Community Project, and it has proven to be one of the richest community and professional experiences of my 20+ year career in public health. Ceres is a non-profit that strives for continued excellence and positively impacts the health of its clients, community, and employees. The Ceres team harnesses its collective strength to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families across Marin and Sonoma counties, with an important emphasis on providing nourishing meals to those with chronic health conditions.

Ceres is an amazing organization that offers youth a place to learn about the impact nutrition has on health as well as cooking skills taught by professional chefs and then along with adult volunteers delivers healthy meals to clients who are recovering from critical illnesses. There is no other program that includes medically tailored meals, and community involvement from youth to seniors and has such a profound impact.

I worked as a Chef Mentor at Ceres. I loved how inclusive Ceres was with their volunteers - there were volunteer appreciation events and we were always well taken care of with breaks and food during our shifts. The appreciation events were really special because Ceres shared other parts of the program w/volunteers (client speakers, teen speakers). This is where you really get to see how your time is impacting the community directly. Ceres classes were also offered to their volunteers for free. Learn and do good a the same time!

This is a fabulous organization that deserves our gratitude and support. Volunteering at Ceres is such a blessing - you are a valued participant in helping those in our community in need during a difficult time in their lives, and you are surrounded by other awesome individuals with such positive energy. The staff is fabulous and the teen volunteers are amazing. Healing with food and educating us all in healthy eating, developing skills, awareness of our environment, and all done with great love. The benefits of this organization are multileveled. Ceres is the best !!

Our son learned so much about cooking and gardening trough Ceres while also gaining self confidence and learning about responsibility and helping others. What a wonderful organization to have in our community!

After 18 weeks of chemo, surgery, and 5 weeks of daily radiation, friends and co-workers gifted me several months of home-delivered, nutritious, and delicious food. I was assigned a personal helper to guide me through the process. The information provided regarding healing foods was very helpful and could easily be incorporated and integrated into my "traditional" treatment. I also appreciated that clients were always encouraged to speak with their Dr. prior to using some of the broths and teas. I was fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends throughout my treatment, but I always loved the notes, pictures, and small gifts that were included with my meals. After completing my Ceres meals, I was asked to speak to the teens and staff about my experience. So proud to have this wonderful organization in my backyard. Jill

I was an observer as I watched Ceres beautiful food delivered to a friend as she went through the arduous chemo treatments. She was nurtured physically & emotionally and today is a healthy woman whose diet is similar to how she learned to eat from Ceres. What a blessing Ceres is to everyone they touch..!

The impact that Ceres has, both locally and nationally, continues to increase. They focus on building community, providing healthy meals to those suffering from illnesses and they develop teens to be future leaders

I am a volunteer and donor for Ceres. The healthy nourishing food helps those with acute illness such as cancer build strength while recovering. Ceres is the best non profit I have ever volunteered for.

Ceres has my heart. They helped my Mom when she was undergoing treatment! I volunteer there once a week and enjoy every minute I am there.

It's been a privilege to serve on the Board of Ceres for the last 4 years. I have volunteered and served on the boards of several nonprofits including national organizations and none have been run better than Ceres. Under Cathryn Couch's leadership Ceres has grown from a small summer project to wonderful organization, changing lives not just here in Sonoma County, but now spreading across the country. Ceres is mission driven and the heart of mission is improving and connecting community both on the near term and for the long game. There is no doubt of the impact of delivering healthy, nutrious food to those dealing with acute medical illness, but perhaps more subtle but no less important is the impact to our community when we empower our youth to make positive changes in their own lives and to the communities where they live. That is a benefit we will reap for generations.

I learned about Ceres several years ago, and was incredibly impressed by the work they do serving people in the midst of a health crisis, creating community connections and empowering young people. The work Ceres does became even more meaningful when I was going through cancer treatment myself, and realized how debilitating and demoralizing the process can be. Ceres is there to provide healthy delicious meals to people when they need it most -- regardless of their ability to pay. It's an incredible organization with a big heart, and a strong, smart, effective management team and staff. Our community is so lucky to have Ceres!

I'm honored to be a board member of Ceres Community Project and am impressed with each interaction I have with the staff, volunteers, and community served. The impact this organization is making makes me proud to be a small part of creating an ecosystem of empowered youth creating and serving healing foods. Ceres Community Project is making a huge difference in our community and is a model for food as medicine.

I have volunteered with Ceres for over 4 years, known many friends and community members who have been clients, receiving healthy, delicious meals made with love by our teen volunteers. Ceres has something for everybody to do, in the kitchen, garden or office. It is a joy and a rich learning experience for everyone. Ceres has the most integrity and respect of any the many volunteer organizations I've been involved with. And we have a lot of fun working as a team.

As a former staff member, moving on to further my career was less hard because I knew I'd be welcomed back as a volunteer. But seeing things from the other side is quite beautiful. The appreciation you receive as a volunteer, the comraderie you can feel with other volunteers, and the knowledge that you are making changes in the world are all quite moving. I only wish I had more time (and money) to give!

We were one of Ceres first clients when my husband had cancer. In the decade since, both of my sons have worked as teen volunteers in the kitchen, garden and catering events. I have done some volunteering and taken nutritional cooking classes. We support several nonprifits, but Ceres is my favorite. I know from these many perspectives, the deep integrity of this organization, as well as the brilliance of its design--powerfully changing the lives of those who are ill and their families, as well as those teens and adults who serve and experientially learn so much about healthy eating and cooking, teamwork, and the ability to make a positive difference in the world. Supporting Ceres uplifts my heart.

I remember when I first heard about the Ceres Project...an organization that invites adult community members and teens to help grow organic food and then cook it up so that it can be delivered to very sick people and their families. It sounded brilliant to me, especially the part about inviting and empowering teens to participate in community building and service.
All this while having fun and socializing in a positive setting and learning some quite practical skills for personal or professional application! I eventually became a volunteer, first helping to maintain the beautiful landscape around the Ceres building on Bodega Ave., then as a garden mentor working with teens and learning together how to grow healthy, organic fruits and veg. I am so grateful for all of the thoughtfulness of the organization ON EVERY LEVEL. Please invest in them with your time, money or spreading the word about them. They are so valuable to our community and a wonderful template for other communities to learn from.

I am a donor...My granddaughter Shannon Gallup is a volunteer.........
She loves Ceres.....
A wonderful way to introduce Volunteering that will go with them in the future

(1/4) I was referred to Ceres through my doctor at the Sebastopol Community Health Center. She raved about Ceres and signed me up for a class. I was blown away

Newly diagnosed with cancer, Ceres delivered meals as I recovered from treatment. They have helped me learn about inserting healthy foods and a healthy lifestyle into my routine. I am a very poor chef, and I look forward to taking their cooking classes to tackle that challenge. I appreciate this program being in place. I think it is unique and a loving service to the community.

My name is Rebecca and I have been a teen volunteer at Ceres for three years.
I would like to share a memory from a few months ago to help bring you into a typical afternoon in the Ceres kitchen.
“I gather in a circle with eight other teens and our chef mentors. Today, Diane joins us to share her experience as a cancer survivor. She thanks us for three months of wholesome meals delivered to her doorstep, which nourished her through chemotherapy. Before leaving, Diane adds that her family’s favorite dish was the fish tikka masala. I smile. I remember cooking that Indian dish two weeks ago. She smiles. Dispersing across the kitchen, we chop, roast, and sauté, transforming local produce into tasty dishes. Stirring, garnishing, and packaging, we prepare meals for 40 community members in need.
When a new volunteer accidentally adds too much broth to the North African stew, as a teen leader at Ceres, I remind him that there are no mistakes, only modifications. We laugh and rename the stew a soup. Taste testing the sesame dressing, I add a dash of rice wine vinegar, confidently straying from the recipe. I leave the kitchen to goodbyes and see-you-next-weeks, excited to don my chef coat again next Thursday afternoon.”
Ceres has sparked my love of cooking and inspired me to spend countless hours experimenting in my own kitchen at home. But Ceres is about so much more than just food. Ceres is a safe space where I have built the confidence to trust in my creativity and problem solve when things don’t go right. Ceres is where I want to be every Thursday afternoon and I am so lucky to be part of this welcoming group of people who have transformed a shared passion for cooking into action in our greater community.

This service is a life saver! I don't feel anxiety about having to buy expensive meals and prepare them! I enjoy the menu and really appreciate the extra healthy goodies. The process is very easy to apply and the volunteers are saints. I can't say enough good things about it and continue to refer people to them.

Volunteering as a Teen Mentor is gratifying to me on several levels. The teens are fascinating, fun, curious, and willing to work, learn, and grow. I'm learning new ways of communicating expectations, managing resources, and preparing healthy food. The best part is hearing client's stories of what healthy meals, prepared with love, mean to their recovery.

I decided to volunteer with Ceres because people I cared about were getting healthy meals. But when I looked into the program I found it was so much more. I volunteer as a receptionist at the front desk and can hear the teens in the kitchen listening to music, talking together and working hard. I hear them interacting with the adult chefs. Every so often I hear a crash and then I hear how the chefs react with understanding and humor. Every volunteer, including me, is apprecited and welcomed and thanked at least once during their shift. I love the fact that teens are learning about cooking, compassion, leadership, working with others, giving back, nutrition, gardening, and much more. Yes Ceres provides nourishing meals sent with love to people with acute illness, but that's just one aspect. It's a brilliant model that even has a system for teaching other communities world wide how to replicate it. I'm very happy and proud to be a member of Ceres Community Project. Pam Neuberg

Ceres is an incredible nonprofit! They provide an invaluable service to cancer patients (such as myself) and do it with warmth & compassion. They are also very organized and professional. I was unlucky to have breast cancer but lucky to have Ceres support me and my family (two small kids) during my treatments.

Excellent source for healthy, nutritious, organic, locally donated food turned into meals for health/medically impaired, house bound clients . Delivered on a weekly basis by volunteer delivery. Training ground for teen cooks for life skills in the kitchen. Completely dependent on volunteers and donations (food and money). Minuscule staff, running 5 days a week for the needs of the clients. Slowly expanding operations as staff and resources expand (food, volunteers, mentors for teen cooks, delivery).

Ceres Project is an amazing organization. I have supported them in the past by donating to their auction fundraiser, but never thought I'd be a client, too. After major cancer surgery, they brought healthy, healing, farm-to-table meals for my husband and me every week for 8 weeks, which allowed me to focus on healing and my husband to focus on work and all the other things that I was not able to do. The meals are delicious, and we even had left-overs. They were on time every time, and I had 2 different deliverers, both of whom were helpful and pleasant. I have donated to and worked with many non-profit organizations and cannot say enough about this group. They truly have EVERYTHING figured out to do the best they can for the clients, the workers, and the environment. How could you possibly beat that?

I have been a volunteer now for over three years working primarily as a client liaison. I love what I do acting as a link between the clients we serve and the Ceres program. Furthermore, I have always felt valued as a volunteer, and I've never felt pressured to do more than I wanted. There are many ways to serve in the Ceres community. There is a volunteer position for just about anyone who cares to join .For me it has been a very good fit. It might be for you too!
Leona Judson

I started volunteering with Ceres Project in 2013. Working as an Adult Mentor chef was a great experience, not only for sharing cooking skills and knowledge with the student volunteers but getting to make wonderful, healing, tasty meals. Then in August 2014, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily I caught it early, but I opted to do both Chemo and radiation as well as eastern healing practices, acupuncture, massage, yoga and meditation. I became a client of a Ceres and received the incredible healing, beautifully prepared meals, delivered to my door for 16 weeks. Being on the receiving end was difficult for me, but I got to experience the whole process, and give feedback, as well. Ceres is an incredible project that has helped so many people maintain their strength in a difficult time and their hopes in getting their lives back. Think you Ceres.

I was one of the first teen volunteers to work with Ceres in Marin, and worked with the program for one of the longest stretches, from when it began in 2010 until I left for college in 2014, although I had begun to taper off in the last few months. One of my family's close friends was also one of the first client Ceres of Marin had, and prepping, cooking, packaging, and delivering to her each week gave me such a better overall outlook on life, the struggles of others, and what it means to be happy, and those are things that I still reflect on and value now almost 6 years since my first day. I also got to see firsthand the value the program brought, and continues to bring, to the clients, their friends and families, and the smaller communities they participate in within the county. After working with Ceres for 2 years, I was also able to use the skills I learned in that time to go on a get jobs in restaurants in the local area and continue learning about food and cooking, which are two of my greatest passions. I think that often with Ceres it is easy to see the value that the clients get out of such a program, but what I think is truly special about this organization is that the passion that each individual brings to the table gives an immense amount back to those who dedicate their time to this cause. Without Ceres, I cannot say that I would be nearly as empathetic or outgoing of a person and I definitely wouldn't have the chops to work in the local food scene.

I've helped cook here. And have met many families that have received meals from Ceres. They say it changed their lives and morale to have these deliveries of healthy food when life was tough.

This project does it all:

teaches teen to cook healthy meals and gives them useful job skills

provides healthy meals to needy cancer patients, teaching them better eating habits

helps the environment by supporting local organic food sources and the use of fresh vegetables, helping the which reduces meat and packaged food consumption

Ceres serves patients, but my experience is with how they enliven teens and infuse the community with energy for healthy living with their garden, their classes and their teen training!

Unbelievably great idea to help people this way. A lifesaver.

After volunteering with many organizations over the years, my connection with Ceres has continued for the last 6 years because of its contributions to the community on so any different levels, from teen development, to nutrition education, to helping folks with life threatening illnesses. I have watched Ceres grow over the years in a way few non profits have.

Ceres is absolutely on of the best experiences I've had in my life. Working for Ceres is such a fulfilling experience. Through Ceres I have been able to meet wonderful people, learn utile new skills, and open doors to opportunities I would have never encountered otherwise.

After being part of this amazing project, in its ever flowing kitchens for three years now I can honestly say Ceres has changed my life for the better. Once just another teenage girl, Ceres has given me more motivation than I ever could inspire without it. I now have a life path I hope to take and achieve as much and more as Ceres has in my own career. Realizing what helping others can do for the self has been an amazing gift. I hope I never have to stop being part of something so powerful as cooking goof food for a community who loves and appreciates it.

I've begun volunteering as part of the Ceres Project and am astonished, not surprised but overwhelmed, by the clear organization of the program, how volunteers know exactly what to do because it's so simply laid out, even as Ceres grows so fast that all the people who work and volunteer will be stretched. I have confidence both creative and realistic solutions will be found. I just hope that more and more people who previously had few opportunities to eat the nourishing great food that Ceres offers will have the chance to be nourished as Ceres can nourish. Barbara

Ceres seems to be the most pure of mission of any organization I have known. They really are all about bringing healthy, healing, nutritious food to people in need and teaching the teens about good food, cooking, gardening and giving. As a volunteer, it is a privilege to be a part of helping people in need and there is much I have learned along the way, which I really appreciate. I have been volunteering as a liaison and kitchen helper for about three years.
Connie Bowen

Over the last three years I have watched Ceres grow, and I have been growing myself. I have become a more confident cook and a strong leader becuase of my involvement with Ceres. I have taken on the role of teen leader and am now serving as a youth board member, these unique oppurtuinites have made me stretch and change in ways I had not known I was able to. Ceres is a wonderful organization that has blessed the lives of countless indivuals, and I feel so lucky to be a part of this wonderful community.

Ceres is one of the most well organized and managed organizations I have been involved with. All donors should rest easy that their financial donation will work as hard as possible for those who benefit from Ceres wonderful efforts!

I have been volunteering in the kitchen and garden for two and a half year's and my love for Ceres has only grown. Cooking with all of the amazing chefs, and gardening with Sara has made me want to persue the culinary arts.

Ceres is a remarkable program. I'm a physician and I see the link between health and healthy eating, especially when battling serious illness. But Ceres does so much more than simply provide nutritious, delicious meals. Connecting people to the community gives them hope and strength, and then when you layer on the youth volunteer program which helps the teens develop their own sense of community giving as well as healthy eating habits you wind up with incredible synergy that improves the present and promises a better future. I am continually amazed at what Ceres is able to accomplish and very proud to be associated with the organization.

When I delivered a meal to a client's house I was really moved by the client's reaction. In a few minutes I learned how consumed they were with worrying about treatments, nausea and test results and the ever-present and oppressive fatigue. It was clear how worrying about something like food - let alone a nutritious meal - was far from their mind. Being able to lift a burden for that family in some small way was incredibly moving. Ceres makes that possible for thousands of people a year.

I remember not really being excited about going but my mom asked me to at least just try one day and if it didn't work out then no harm done. Coming home afterwards I was on the biggest high of enthusias, I could not stop smiling or talking about it. That was two almost 3 years ago. In that time I've gained a confidence in leadership, task management, and a way to be in a industrial kitchen setting which has given me a leg up when it came for me to get a job in customer service and catering. All the people in the kitchen are awesome to work with and just be yourself around, the adults listen and hold such a wonderful space for you to step into new roles and help you grow in every way possible, the teens are happy and bring their own strengths to each task (even on their first day). I can say with no doubt that if I hadn't come across Ceres I would not come close to the person I am today.

Ceres provided food for my family and me when I was going through treatments and healing from breast cancer nearly two years ago. Ceres is one of those amazing organizations that sincerely make a holistic impact in healing. I was nourished, supported by my community, and found ways to engage in my life again after treatments through becoming a member of the board of directors.
Being ill can be very isolating, and it was hard for me to give up my activism in the community. Even though I couldn't actively be a part of my community in the way I was accustomed to while I was going through treatments, I felt so connected to my community through the Ceres Project. Because of Ceres, I knew there were people in my community who cared about what I was going through and wanted to help make a difference in my healing. The fact that I didn't know these people and they didn't know me is even more impactful. Everyone one from the teen volunteers who grow, harvest, prepare, and cook to the delivery angels who brought us food each week to the Ceres staff who took such care in their interactions with me to the donors who support Ceres; everyone was a part of my healing.
And make a difference they did! Not only was the food super delicious and nutritious, it became a cornerstone of my healing. Food is medicine. To the amazement of my oncologist, I healed very fast from the bi-lateral mastectomy and made a strong comeback after chemotherapy. I know it was the food, what I learned about food from Ceres, and my relationship with food as medicine that influenced my quick recovery.
I feel so blessed to have received the healing foods from Ceres Community Project. It moved me so much to receive this food that I felt compelled to give back. I am now serving on the Board of Directors to give voice to the client perspective and to support the beautiful community building, life-affirming impact that Ceres has in the communities it serves.

I have been a volunteer in the garden for the last few years. I have know about Ceres from the beginning and it is incredible to see how many lives they have touched . It is so wonderful to see such a community supported organization. I have met so many cool kids and adults I would not have met if it had not been for Ceres. It has been so life enhancing

Four years ago Ceres Community Project came into my life while going through breast cancer treatment. The treatment was very difficult and it was hard to eat. Thanks to the nutrient-rich food from Ceres, the minimal amount of food that I was able to eat gave me vital nutrients to keep my body going. We realized quickly how valuable this was to my recovery along with my husbands survival as well. I needed constant monitoring and not having to deal with what to feed us was a great relief for both of us. As I became stronger I would go into the kitchen and talk to the teen chefs about what an impact they had made in my recovery. I have come to understand that by providing me with beautiful, delicious, nutritional meals these teenagers are learning about healthy eating habits that will change the outcome of what they might be dealing with as they and others around them age. What a gift they are giving to themselves. Through the Ceres Community Project I have learned about the value that healthy food and community brings to the healing process. Most of all I've learned the enormous difference that volunteers working together can make in hundreds of lives like mine. I have since moved away from Sebastopol yet Ceres Community Project has left an immense contribution to my outlook on life and the choices I make on how to nourish my body. I have my immunity broth every day and continue to spread the word about how Ceres Community Project saved my life.

I've been volunteering at Ceres for about a year and a half now. My mom dragged me into it and I've never been so grateful. We do really hard work and learn an intimidating amount of food, health, sanitation, gardening, and ecological knowledge. The goal is to provide food for very ill people, but we benefit so much from the experience of working as a team in both the garden and kitchen. The mentors are great teachers and so patient, leading me from complete ignorance in the kitchen to a capable cook. I drive 50 minutes to come to the Sebastopol Ceres Program and it's worth every minute of the trip.
But it's not just educational, it's very impacting. Meeting the clients opens our eyes to what sick people have to deal with, and gives purpose to every onion we chop and each tomato we grow. You begin to fall in love with nutritional food and want to share it with all the people who could greatly benefit from a healthy diet. I recommend Ceres to every kid and am proud to be a part of it.

Few organizations provide the beneficial effects for their community that the CERES Project can claim today. From the nutritional aid to medical patients and their families, to the educational aspects of its outreach to teenagers who, in the process, learn good habits of food selection and preparation, the positive influences are unquestionable.

For the adult volunteers, the sense of fulfillment is most satisfying. I truly look forward to starting the week on Monday mornings at CERES, chopping gorgeous vegetables with new-found friends in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The fact that the Ceres concept is spreading elsewhere in the US could not be more heart-warming to me!

The Ceres organization is so much more than feeding those with health challenges. It lovingly nourishes all that come into contact with this amazing organization. Whole communities are better for having a Ceres.

My sister was served CERES meals all summer. We looked forward to Fridays when the meals would be happily delivered, along with a handful of sweet flowers. I help bring them in and organize them ("eat first"), put the menu on the fridge and flowers in water. What struck me from day one was the caliber and quality of the food provided. These are restaurant-quality meals! Packaged in durable, easily stackable, easily washable NICELY LABELED containers!

Being a convert to the plant-based nutrition lifestyle, I am REALLY bowled over by the FRESHNESS and quality of each little tiny diced ingredient. I feel like I am eating at Greens (no lie). CERES food delivery service was a God-send to our family, and made a meaningful impact on the well being of this family.

Ceres has a multlayered impact on our communities. First, it gives Teens a way to learn about healthy alternatives for nutrition, how to prepare healthy meals and be good team members. In addition it gives them a way of seeing how their volunteerism can impact individuals in a life changing way.
Next, it serves by supplying families dealing with life threatening illness and recovery with healthy meals during critical periods. This service is life changing for those families. And finally, by educating the community about the importance of healthy food preparation it contributes to the well being of the entire community.

The impact Ceres is making in our community is amazing. I am a board member but I have also been delivering meals for over 4 years. Each and every week I see the gratitude first hand from our clients. We are truly making a difference in their lives not to mention the difference we are making in the lives of our teen volunteers. They are being empowered in so many ways. They are learning cooking and nutrition skills and they are witnessing what a difference their involvement is making in their community and in the lives of our clients.

I have been a volunteer mentor chef and board member for over four years for this extraordinary organization that is changing lives in profoundly positive ways. From the teens who learn to cook, eat healthy food and discover that they can make a huge difference In others's lives, to the most vulnerable people and their families in our community receiving nutritious life- giving meals when they need it the most, Ceres is a model for what a great truly game changing nonprofit can be.

As a donor, I feel confident that my financial contributions will be used wisely to grow the organization and provide nourishing meals for our seriously ill community members. I am confident that Ceres is extremely well managed.

I have been associated with the Ceres Community Project since its inception. I didn't think it would ever become the organization it has developed into. Serving thousands of meals to those in need and wrapping the meal with a sense of community goes far beyond just a food delivery program.
Helping "sprout" other Ceres Project based organizations around the country is another reason this dynamic nonprofit goes beyond the norm.

I could not have stumbled across a better organization to support if I had tried! There are plenty of programs that provide meals to those in need and are often bedbound, homebound or can't otherwise prepare nutritious meals for themselves. But Ceres is the first I've come to know as including teens in the active preparation of the meals, as well as help tend the garden that provides much of fresh produce incorporated into the meals. The teens gain valuable skills in both food prep and interpersonal relationships working in teams in the Ceres professional kitchen. They also earn necessary Community Service credit through their respective high schools. And to watch the teens work together on a common goal--and knowing how that experience will help mold the rest of their lives--is just amazing! This isn't a program for troubled teens (although some may be), but I would wish this opportunity for EVERY community where you just know this environment would go a long way in changing the course of many young lives!!

I have been a teen volunteer at the Ceres Community project for over three years. It has taught me so many things from how to cook healthy and delicious foods for myself and my family, to the fact that I, a seventeen year old girl and change someone's life for the better by just taking a few hours out of my week. By participating in the leadership program it offers, I have gained a new confidence in myself and my abilities, something not often found in teenagers. It teaches teens like myself the life skills needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle while supporting families during a very difficult period of time. It has changed both my life as well as the thousands of other lives that have been impactedby this project for the better.

The Ceres Project is a wonderful organization that cultivates community support and sustainable nourishment for people/families going through life-threatening health crisis. They helped my family and me during my treatment for breast cancer. I cannot express with words the gratitude I have for what they have done to support me in my healing process. This is an amazing project!

I have a genetic problem and cannot prepare my own food. Ceres is made up of loving angels who prepare my food for me. on 9/1 I broke my foot and they allowed a friend to pick-up my food. On 9/9 I went into surgery and had a repair on my stomach and required my food to be prepared in a special way and these blessed angels have been accommodating me. My friend is still picking up food for me. I feel Ceres has always gone above and beyond in helping me out. They have all expressed loving support to me in my difficult times; especially Rob. After about six weeks on Ceres food, I looked and felt so much better; in fact I had never eaten so well in my whole life and their food was and is so delicious.

When I received the news that I had Cancer and would need Chemotherapy a friend told me about Ceres. When the Ceres volunteer came to my door with food and flowers the first day I cried. To have complete strangers take care of you is a very moving experience. Ceres is an exceptional organization from top to bottom. Caring for people that are sick and getting teenagers involved with preparing the food is a great service to our Community. Ceres nurtures the mind, the soul and the heart for everyone that is involved. During a very difficult time Ceres brought back my faith in humanity.

When I first started coming to Ceres almost two years ago, I had no idea what it would be like to cook with other teens that wanted to get community service hours under their belt, along with the feeling that they'd helped make somebody's life a LOT easier. Now, I am a teen leader at Ceres, and I still want to lend a helping hand to those in need.

I've been volunteering in the kitchen for about year and a half as a mentor chef with the teens, helping to prepare the meals Ceres sends out to members of the community in need of support. I am a retired teacher and have unbounded love and respect for kids of all ages. I am constantly astonished by the high level of care and support with which Ceres holds the teens. The mentors attend monthly meetings during which we continue to search for ways to honor and empower the teens during their time at Ceres with the intent that they internalize their experience and take their empowered selves out into the world. When we raise the bar, they follow because trust has been built with respect, honesty and a communal intention. I have recently been on the receiving end of Ceres as my husband and I recover from a kidney transplant, from me to him. Knowing that there is healthy food in the frig and more on the way has been such a gift! The entire process of being a receipeint has been perfect, from the calm, nurturing intake proceedure, to the angels delivering the meals to our door. Being taken care of by "strangers" has been a mountaintop experience for our family for which we are eternally grateful.

Seeing teens learn to prepare nutritious food and to hear the joy from those who receive the food has moved me to join the Board and offer my services to increase Ceres outreach.

CERES community project is so considerate with their volunteers. We just had a volunteer appreciation day where many people were acknowledged. It was also a wonderful way to connect the many people who separately volunteer for the organization. This organization is always sending emails and cards to thank the volunteers and keep the good energy circulating between everybody. They foster a "family" feeling and a circle of gratitude that just keeps increasing.
This is just one aspect of why this organization is special and top notch. The service to the community is consistant and continues to evolve to meet new needs. The meals are cooked and delivered with joy and the education programs continue to reach out to those who need to learn more about assisting their own pursuit of a healthy diet and contributing to the health of their loved ones. I continually meet people who have been touched by the generosity of this community project.

I am very impressed with the Ceres Project and all that they have to offer my community. They weave together health and service, all while teaching students and their clients. I first learned about Ceres when my husbands mom was going through chemotherapy and had food delivered to her house with ingredients that helped support her through her healing journey. I decided to volunteer a few times by cleaning the kitchen at the church that the kids made the food at and also played a part in making immune broths and "magic goo balls". I learned a lot and still use some of the recipes for myself. I love how they teach students to make healthy food that will give them the prevention knowledge that they need in life while helping people and families that are sick and need help.

Much love to Ceres!
Leah Rose DUke

Ceres Community Project provides a much needed service in the community for people with illnesses, but also offers opportunties to build community by giving teens the opportunity to learn how to cook and participate in a community effort of such immediate importance. Ceres is also remarkably creative in their diverse fundraising strategies, their ability to engage community partners, and their excellent communications to the community. I love their website. The cookbook is fabulous too!

Last year I volunteered with Ceres and found to my absolute delight and awe a group of dedicated, heart-centered individuals. There is a spirit the permeates the people that I met at Ceres and the best that I can determine the source, I believe it is the combinaton of the youth in the kitchen and those within the community who are ill and need help. Then there is the addition of layers of community support from the organic farmers, excellent support from stores like Olivers to the "angels" who volunteer their time to deliver the food. What I also saw last year was the amount of time and energy involved in fund raising. It was a joy to work with the Ceres volunteers and staff and to sense that everyone involved seemed to benefit from it's existense.

What could be more win - win than teaching kids to cook nourishing foods and then delivering it to people with cancer. I know 2 families that have received the food and how important it is for them. One family the wife has spent her time researching alternative health care for her husband. He is still alive months after the doctors said he would not be, with a very aggresive cancer..Freeing up her time by providing food is such a gift.
I am on a lesser healing journey my self. I have done lot's of study on nutrition. We live in a world where packaged non-foods rule the supermarkets. I heard a child say he hates water and he demanded a soda. We are sicker and sicker and farther and farther from whole real nourishment.Teaching life long skills and knowledge to the next generation is so vital.

The Ceres Community Project is well organized and supported by many passionate and worldly people. They are all focused and driven to follow the path set forth by its founder. Not only do they help those who are suffering and in need by supplying nourishing meals in a sustainable way, they also teach those capable the how and why to use ingredients from the earth. In addition to helping those in need, they also teach teens how to cook the meals and instill lifelong lessons of compassion and nutrition. For these reasons I feel that Ceres is a very important part of my community and I am very happy with my experience as a volunteer and community member.

I underwent a three-month course of chemotherapy a few months after a bilateral mastectomy. Ceres brought meals and snacks to my home, prepared with my condition and dietary needs in mind, and food for my vegan partner as well. Every single person at Ceres that interacted with me and my partner was exceptionally kind, caring, informed, and helpful. And when I realized that the food had been prepared after-school by teen volunteers who were interested in learning how to cook and eat healthily, I was nourished not only by the food but also by the concept and execution of this wonderful service. In addition to being a client served, I am also a donor and intend to become a volunteer for this remarkable service organization. I hope it will become a model for other communities to emulate and build upon -- it is much needed in every locality.

I love that this organization provides volunteer opportunities for every level of time commitment. If a volunteer has lots of time, there are ways to help. If a volunteer has an hour a week, there is a way to help. I appreciate fully giving my hour per week without being constantly asked to give more (as has been my experience volunteering elsewhere). I know that when I'm ready to give more, I will be welcome to give it.

I started out as a client with the Ceres Project. I was so impressed with this group of loving, giving people and the amazing food the teens are preparing that I now volunteer & deliver meals to other people that are in the healing process. Their food helped me bounce back so quickly, & I will always be grateful for that. I could honestly feel the love.

I came to Ceres as a volunteer in order to satisfy my inner philanthropist. What I got back was so much more. First, you are teaching young people what to do with whole foods, cooking with healthy, organic and local ingredients and providing them with a foundation for a future of healthful eating. Second, you are making all these wonderful meals for a people who are sick and vulnerable and need to eat well. Many of them write in to thank us and tell us we literally saved their lives. What could be more rewarding?

I started as a volunteer and quickly moved into a Board position at Ceres because I knew that this was an organization that was truly worthy of my time and energy.
The work that Ceres does is transformational on many levels. We transform teen's relationship with food, the way they view themselves as leaders, and their ability to bring good to the world through stewardship.
We provide much needed nutrient, dense meals to people with life threatening illness who need it the most to help aid in their healing.
And we teach the greater community about the links between health and food, so that we empower people to make better food choices that will strengthen their bodies.
We are an organization that has grown quickly because there is both a huge need in our community, and the community is crying out for more every day. We have attracted amazing volunteers and donors who really stand behind, not only what we do, but what he are about. At the core of Ceres is the heart and relationship and supporting others in our community the way that we used to do automatically. So we are not just about health of bodies, but also the health of our community and our spirits, which is what makes being part of Ceres incredibly gratifying and wonderful.
As an example, one of our clients was dying at age 28 of breast cancer and was a single Mom of 2. Not only did we provide meals for her, but all the food needs for the family. We also provided emotional support through her client liaison and her delivery "angel". As her delivery angel, I knew that we were a godsend to her. She said she could taste the love in the food they ate. It had a profound impact on them, (and certainly me as well) and that is why Ceres is so special. We don't just deliver nutrient dense meals. We don't just teach teens to cook. We don't just educate about the connection between food and health. We do all of that in a context of love and support, which makes all the difference for not only our clients, but all of us who are involved in the Ceres Community Project.

My experience at Ceres Community Project comes via two perspectives, one as a Board member, involved with board repsonsibilities and duties and secondly as a father of a teen volunteer. As a Board member, I am exposed to the entire organization and all of the people who are volunteering their time or staff members. I have been to staff meetings, watching and observing the staff interact, and met many volunteers through different functions. The amount of volunteers and their commitment is inspiring to witness. In addition, I have met several of the client's who are being served by Ceres. To meet them, listen to their stories and see the impact that Ceres has had on their physical and emotional well being is something you never forget. They are so inspiring. I feel that I recieve so much more as a Board member from Ceres than I can ever give back.
My son volunteers at Ceres as a teen cook. He is a quiet boy by nature, but seems to open up when talking about his experiences at Ceres. His favorite times are when Clients will come to the kitchen adn personally thank all of the teen volunteers. These moments seem to affect my son in a very profound way and I'm sure that he has received much from the program.

Having the personal experience of cancer treatments - I am a 7 year survivor! - my heart truly goes out to the people that Ceres Community Project helps. I am a food delivery volunteer. The recipients of Ceres healthy meals are so grateful: The appreciation is clearly expressed on their faces: Many share their stories of how the delicious food gives them strength and makes their lives easier. I can not imagine going through cancer treatments while also experiencing financial and/or mobility issues. Ceres is a blessing to so many, and I am blessed to be part of this incredible experience.
Ceres also has a positive impact on the teens who learn how to grow, cook and eat healthy foods. It is also a valuable experience in organizational skills and understanding the value of charity and community support.

I am a volunteer for Ceres Community Project. I loss the love of my life in 2009 to cancer. After going through the long, hard battle of cancer and loosing my husband i knew I had to be of support and service for those facing the same challenges we had faced. I went to Ceres to help in any way I could. When I walked in to this amazing organization I was so humbly suprised. Ceres is such an amazing gift for so many in need. I really wish i knew about Ceres while we were on our journey. the love, the support, the food, the amazing people and the dedication of the community project is beyond words. Ceres is truly an organization full of angels.

I have been a part of Ceres for a couple of months and my only concern is that I wish I could participate more. I was surprised to learn that I really enjoy cooking alongside other teens because you know that you're doing something useful. When clients come to the kitchen and shows their gratitude I am always happy to realize that I am a part of Ceres.

I was a client of CERES project twice in the last three years, when I was going through my chemo in 2008 when I had been diagnozed with a breast cancer, and in 2010, when I had a recurrence. Both times my whole family enjoyed abundant beautifully presented food, which was healing, nutrisious and delicious. I helped me a lot to recover! My family is very grateful to this wonderful project.

The volunteers who delivered my food were really nice and thoughtful. I remember one time I received not only a week's supply of healthy meals but also a lovely arrangement of fresh organic flowers. It was very touching and caring!

I also learned a lot during the lectures offered by the CERES project. I applaud the organizers and volunteers of this truly special nonprofit.

I heard about the Ceres Community Project when it first started using QuickBooks software for the bookkeeping. As a QuickBooks Certified Professional Advisor, I wanted to help setup the books so that the executive director and the board of directors could get the reports they needed. I felt strongly that this was a non-profit program that deserved my time and expertise. I think it is important to empower teen-age young people and show them the grace that comes from volunteering their time. I also think that healthy food and good nutrition are essential factors in healing the body. Giving food to those in need, especially those who have a health crisis, is one of the most basic things we do. Ceres does all of this and so much more!

I'm the parent of a teen who has been volunteering for 6 months now with Ceres Project. I've also taken a class at Ceres on sprouting for health. The class was fun and inspiring (and I learned of a local source for fresh raw milk out of it as well!) But I'm even more thrilled with the opportunity that Ceres affords my daughter (almost 14) for working in a community kitchen and learning valuable health and cooking skills and principles, all the while participating in community service that helps others who are less fortunate. It's a massive win-win situation, for which I'm so grateful! She's brought home cooking tips to me (and this is a girl who typically has never been interested in cooking with Mom at home) such as slicing asparagus on the diagonal, which I love! And the other night, when i was exhausted and, as single working mom, not up to the task of cooking dinner for us, she offered to make dinner and produced a creative variation on a carrot dish they'd made at Ceres. Usually she protests that she doesn't like cooked carrots, but the way she made them, we both loved them! The fact that this was a byproduct of her work at Ceres just warmed my heart and spirit! I am so grateful for the positive energy she gets as well from working on a team in the kitchen there, doing hard work including mopping and dishes (not her favorite!) despite not always feeling like it!, under great leadership. The design of Ceres Project is impeccable in my book, as it benefits people on all ends, from those served to those serving, all in the name of health, nourishment, and community. Three cheers!

Ceres fills a need in any community. The program should be duplicated across the country. It not only allows high school students to learn to give and serve, it provides extraordinary, nutritional meals to people who otherwise would be home ill and often weakened and alone during chemo and radiation treatment.

With the massive cuts in food programs and social services, there are few programs left to give to those who can't help themselves during a difficult time in their lives.

The Ceres Community Project is a community based organization that prepares and delivers healthy food to seriously ill clients, who may be unable to cook for themselves, at no charge. Our family received meals for several months, and they were fantastic...fresh and made with the healthful ingredients that tempted me to eat even when chemo did away with my appetite. The meals are all of high quality, and interesting and really, truly delicious. We love to cook, and I never thought receiving the gift of already prepared meals could be so important...but it is. There are times when food was the last thing I wanted to think about, and Ceres knows that...they step in at exactly the right time. Plus the kitchen is staffed with teenage volunteers who are learning to cook creative and nutritious foods under the guidance of a professional chef...and giving so much of their time and kindness to the community. We think it's such a great group, based an a marvelous concept, that our teenage daughter has become a volunteer, too. We eventually stopped receiving meals (at our request), because it seems the need is great, and there are others who need the assistance more than we do at this point. But our daughter is wanting to continue to volunteer...a gift in itself.

Not only does Ceres enable the recipients of the week's food to gain a local, organic, and prepared meal, but they also get a visit once a week from "delivery angels" who spend time with them and gauge how they are doing. As a teenage chef, I personally benefitted from the direction of great and often professional chefs who guided me and taught me how to cut properly and how to cook ingredients I had never dealt with. Beyond this, they also showed an intimate knowledge of what type of food is necessary for someone with cancer or other serious illnesses. They know how large to cut something, the desired consistency, and they make sure the food looks appetizing by insisting on a beutiful presentation of the food. Ceres is beneficial not only to the clients but also to the volunteers.

My dear friend Pete found out he had lung cancer last October. I felt helpless and needed a way to use the surge of energy this news created in me. I signed up to be a "Delivery Angel" with The Ceres Project to deliver a weeks worth of food each week to the clients on Thursdays. The food is free for the first few weeks. The clients are amazed by this generosity and I believe this act of giving heals them as much as the nutritious and delicious food. I love doing this! As if that wasn't enough, the fact that teens are doing the cooking, preparing incredibly delicious, organic healthy food for folks with life threatening disease bridges so many issues that have been disconnected. The clients, volunteers and teens are learning the healing properties of food and we're all experiencing the healing power of working together as a community to help people in need. This is a very special organization and I'm honored to be a part of it.

My partner was diagnosed with cancer last year and Ceres was an important element that helped our family deal with the situation. The food was incredible and love was a major ingredient. The project encompasses so many people with their big hearts and the education the students get is invaluable. I would love to see the project thrive in every state. It is a gift that every cancer patient deserves.

My husband was diagnosed with widely metasticized cancer when our little boys were 2 and 6. To suddenly have all the physical, emotional and financial demands of trying to research and heal his cancer at the same time as all the demands of a young family, was overwhelming. Preparing daily healthy homecooked meals was not possible. I don't have words to express what a difference the Ceres Community Project made in our lives, on all levels. In addition to amazingly, literally feeding us, the Ceres folks helped us feel cared for and held so beautifully. The meals sustained us during a devastating time. They were healthful, generous, delicious and even took into account all our dietary restrictions; and they were delivered with real love.

The Ceres Community Project truly saves lives. About once a week for the majority of my high school career, I made the pilgrimage to the Ceres kitchen and experienced what it feels like to heal people in dire need. The food we prepare for our clients is crafted with love and care, and every single teen who helps with a meal puts their love and hope into the food. It's always been difficult for me to decide who benefits more from the project, our clients, or the teens. An experience I had in the kitchen a few months ago can illustrate the impact our program has on all of its participants. I was washing dishes with a few other teens, when a woman passed through the doorway. We could tell immediately that she was a client by the scarf she had wrapped around her bald scalp, and by the bag of containers she was bringing back to us. We greeted her, chatted for a brief moment, and then she paused, and said with no preamble whatsoever, "I want to thank you for saving my life." Then with a warm, grateful smile she passed from the kitchen. How many 17 year olds can say they have experienced something like this? In the Ceres Project, we are all aware of the lives we are giving back to our patients, and of the impact our work is having on us. Ceres is an incredibly unique program that deserves far more than 5 stars!

Last year I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease that resulted in brain surgery. It was a very difficult time. Ceres Project was a godsend! The meals were delivered by friendly and respectful people, the food was beautiful to the eye and incredibly delicious, made with healthy and nutritious foods, and the servings were very generous-they fed me and those caring for me. It was a huge relief to have food taken care of so that I could rest and my helpers could do all the other many tasks involved in my recovery. I'm eternally grateful for this nourishing and practical support that Ceres provides.

This is a phenomenal organization, and it was started by one woman - proof that an individual can make a difference; kids from the local high schools are brought in to cook, volunteers from the community deliver the food, and the food is very health, whole foods that help in the healing process. This project touches all ages in the community and as Cathryn Couch says, "food is nore than just feeding someone - it's nourishing to the soul and to the whole person". I'm so thankful to be a part of this incredible organization. Thank you Cathryn. Nancy Aita Sebastopol, CA

Being part of the group really made me feel like I could make a difference. It's amazing to be a part of something like that, not to mention the recipes and fantastic cooking tips we bring home with us.

Ceres is a wonderful community project. It creates a win-win situation - providing excellent nutrition-dense meals to seriously ill people, while teaching valuable life skills to local teenagers, who are cooking those meals. I was truly blessed to recieve carefully selected, lovingly cooked and beautifully presented meals every week, for all the six months that I was going through the chemotherapy in 2008. It was such a great help! These meals were delivered to my home absolutely free. I wish every community had such an amazing group helping people in need. Thanks God, I am well now. I am still staying in touch with Ceres, this time I am benefiting from their free health classes. I have learned so much from their excellent presentations! Ceres helps people when they are ill and empowers them to take better care of their health. It inspires teenangers, supports caregivers, brings hope to lonely people. Ceres builds health of individuals and health of the community as a whole. Great project!

Ceres is a comprehensive program to help bring together all components for optimal health of body, mind and spirit of each person participating in the program. Whether it is a patient in need receiving care, or a loving provider of care, this program is a model for communities throughout the world who really want a healthy, vibrant and supportive life together. We are all connected and Ceres program helps to connect the dots.

Ceres saved my life. I truly believe that. They helped me to cope with my breast cancer, by helping me to understand that people care. They gave me hope and GREAT food. The Ceres Foundation is a wonderful group of teens and adults that make great organic food for Cancer patients and bring it into their home. The food tasted great,even though my taste buds were off. I felt like I was being cured by eating the broth and immune balls. And the people who visited me were kind and understanding. When I felt lonely they were there to talk me thru and give me hope. One of the amazing things about the group is that the food they bring is not just for the cancer patient but for the whole family. My husband and I had it the whole time of my chemo and radiation but then when my daughter came to stay and help out they provided food for her also. At Christmas time they knitted me a cap for my bald head and gave me a beautiful present of herbs and tinctures and lavender! Oh I LOVE lavender! After my therapies I took a low cost class with JoEllen and learned how to make the food myself. The weekend was very therapeutic with discussions and Qigong and great people. I can't thank the Ceres people enough for their great food and support. It's one of the most worthwhile organizations around.

The Ceres Project is the most amazing organization I have ever worked with. Every time I participate I am overwhelmed by how phenomenal the impact of Ceres is. The amount of positive impact they make in so many people lives seems impossible for such a relatively young organization. They teach teens to cook, as well as eat healthily, they deliver food to people who need it, they provide a strong community, and they educate so many people. Every single part of Ceres is helping someone by giving them joy, knowledge, positive experiences, and great food.

I am a volunteer "adult chef" in the Ceres Community Project kitchen. Teenagers give their time in the service of others, learn kitchen skills and healthy cooking and eating habits. They practice team work. They learn the importance of a job well done, including a floor well swept! And they do it all in the service of members in our community who are sick or recovering from cancer and other serious diseases. This project brings teens, farmers, gardeners, delivery angels and chefs together to support those who really need fresh and nutrient rich foods. It enriches and saves lives. It educates. It creates community. It is a honor to be a part of.

The Ceres Project people are fantastic! I'm a sixty two year old woman with a form of cancer of the bone marrow. Normally I cook for myself and my husband but standing on my feet long enough to prepare meals is agony. Recently I had to go through 4 weeks of radiation treatments and the Ceres Project brought me wonderful, healthy, cooked meals that were so delicious I actually wanted to eat them even though my appetite was mostly gone. What makes it even more special is that these great meals are prepared by local teenagers who are helping people like me everyday. They are all the kindest and most caring people you could meet. I enthusiastically recommend them to any cancer patient living at home and needing assistance. Sincerely, Morning Glory Zell

My seven year old son and I deliver food twice a month for the Ceres Community Project. The organization is very well organized and makes an enormous contribution in our community. I feel so fortunate to have found this inspirational group of dedicated people who created such a gift to our community. From the people who receive the healthful food prepared by teenagers learning to cook and learning about the value of helping others, to those of us who deliver the meals, we are all made to feel like we are important and make a difference. Because of the Ceres Community Project I have the opportunity to teach my son that we all need to think of others, give back and take care of people, even ones we do not know. In response to his frequent question "why do we have to do this?" I ask him "would you rather be receiving the food, or delivering?" He knows that the people receiving the food are very ill and he is quick with his response that delivering is better than receiving. We appreciate having the opportunity to do a tiny thing within our community to help others in need and to support the inspired work done by the Ceres Community Project

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2007, I was overwhelmed with feelings, advice, information, and offers of meals from well-meaning friends. One piece of information which turned out to be invaluable was about the Ceres Project, a Sonoma county non-profit group who delivered meals to people going through cancer treatment. Yeah, sounds great, I said, not meaning it because I like to cook and don't care to be the recipient of charity--I mean, we are struggling financially--what self-employed artists living in an expensive area aren't? but free food? and how good can it be? we aren't that poor! so I went on with all of the oh-so-crazy details which envelop and drown you in the early stages of a cancer diagnosis. Several thousand dollars and weeks of craziness later, my friend reminds me of the Ceres Project. It's really good food, she says. In the meantime, I've discovered that not only is cancer expensive, even for those covered, and I use that term loosely, by insurance, but many many many well-intentioned friends want to bring you food or help or money or how can we help? so I call the Ceres Project people, and they are kind without pity, generous without condescension I might have expected and certainly dreaded. While it was clear that they wanted to help people who were truly in need, it was also clear that "need" is flexibly defined. We are stuck in that strange self-employed land where we make enough money to be middle class but never have enough money to get by, and cancer is a great equalizer. I found out that they would deliver food for my whole family, not just me. I'm not sure how many people who are reading this will understand the difference. At the time, I was the only member of my family--two adults and two children--who cooked. If I became truly incapacitated, we were looking at months of ramen, noodles and cheese, and take-out--not only expensive but not in the immune-building food groups. Not only that, but they would start delivering that week even though my chemotherapy didn't start until the following week. As it turned out, my complicated and interesting mother was visiting on the same day that we would receive our first box, a week after my mastectomy. . .that alone would deserve a rave review. We got our first box, understand that I am writing about a period in my life which happened over two years ago, and I still remember some of the food they delivered that day. Ceres Project is connected with local growers, so we received meals which were not only organic, but locally grown--this was January--not the best time of the month for vegetables--but our box was full of plentiful, flavorful, wonderful food. My mother still talks about the beet, barley, walnuts and beet greens salad--yum! My box included meals for several days and for a family of four. It always included immune broth, and later the ingredients to make my own (which I still do), salad, whole grains, some kind of protein, veggies, and a dessert. The box came with a sheet explaining it's contents and sometimes some additional information. I received a box for all of the months of my treatment, until I called and said we didn't need it anymore. I have a friend who has metastasized breast cancer who received a box for several years. I have little tiny, quibbling feedback to give, mostly from the point of view of a foodie: my kids didn't love the food and part of the reason I welcomed it was because I wouldn't have to feel guilty about not feeding them. They had a lot of carbs that spring. A kid-friendly, less spicy option would be welcome. I understand that this would be more work and maybe doesn't fit into their concept. Also, a problem with the pasta dishes. Pasta should be stored separately so that it doesn't get mushy. Did I mention that these are quibbles? Frankly, the Ceres Project made those months much, much easier. My husband and I both loved the food. "What did we get this time?" "Oooooooh," every Thursday, every time. Memorable food, a generous spirit, a great way for local teenagers to donate their time--they do most of the cooking: not only do they learn to give but they learn to cook. The Ceres Project makes a point of using local growers, the food is mostly organic, and our meals showed a deep concern for how to eat in a way which would best support people who were being poisoned, literally, by the best that Western Medical Science can provide. whew. Did I mention that the food is delicious, too? And that people who are going through chemo pretty much lose interest in food? Not only do you feel lousy, but food tastes weird for a lot of us(me, that's who I care about--everything tasted weird and flat) the Ceres Project food was fully-flavored, always had a variety of textures, and tasted yummy as well as healthy. Okay, the desserts weren't great. Another quibble. I don't know how to make desserts taste good without refined flour and sugar. I could have skipped these and my kids just laughed. Otherwise, oh, you should have tasted those green beans with sesame seeds. . .and the quinoa salad, and a beautiful fish dish with tomatoes and zucchini, and. . .you get the idea. On a practical level: the people who run this were well organized, prompt and efficient. Responsive as well as caring. I appreciated the efficiency almost as much as the kindness almost as much as the food. Of all the things I received when I had cancer, and I had an enormous support group--Northern California is amazing in terms of giving--this was a highlight. This is truly a great non-profit, and deserving of any help they can get. If I ever win the lottery or receive an unexpected inheritance, these are the people I will give to first.

I am blessed to deliver weekly meals prepared by local teens to recipients in their homes who are healing from chemo and/or life threatening illnesses. Ceres Community Project educates teens about food, nutrition, and cooking, and also offers courses to the community. Ceres provides the abundance of our local food suppliers through the future of our community to those who most need superior nutrition while healing.

Ceres was a Godsend to me and my family during the months after I had multiple surgeries for Ovarian Cancer. A super friendly volunteer arrived at my door weekly with dinners for the week that were prepared by volunteers in the area including local high school students, supervised by an amazing chef. The meals were tasty and very nutritious, and made my life so much easier while recovering and having chemo treatments. Thank you Ceres!

A friend of mine received meals from Ceres Community Project when she was recovering from brain surgery. The meals were so incredible--creative combinations of ingredients thoughtfully prepared. I was so impressed I applied for a job with Ceres and learned much more about this remarkable organization. They engage young people from the community to prepare healthy meals, and other community volunteers to deliver the meals to people in the community who are homebound and with severe health needs. They partner with local farms to procure fresh organic foods. They teach people who have received their meals how to prepare the food and learn to eat more healthy meals. I didn't wind up getting the job but am so glad I applied and learned so much about this innovative and inspiring effort in our community.

The Ceres Community Project has done a wonderful job in Sebastopol and the surrounding area - they prepare healthy meals for cancer patients, teach high school students the art of preparing nutritious food and involve members of the community with deliver of the food. I am always intrigued with the fantastic array of classes offered by this group and the level of enthusiasm and commitment the teens demonstrate. The Ceres Community Project provides an important service to the community on so many levels!