The event will feature prayer, fellowship and music and will be held and Village Green Park in Capital Village. Rancho Cordova’s Community Chorus will be performing. Plan on attending from 7 to 8 p.m.

Attendees are encouraged to bring new hygiene items to be donated to Project 680. Project 680 is a grassroots organization that is totally supported by the community that supports local homeless students in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

Please see the official websites for more information about Cordova Community Council or Project 680.

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A contingent of representatives from the City, including residents, City and Community Council members and City staff gave a 10-minute presentation to the panel yesterday morning. The theme was “We Make the Magic” in a community where diverse groups pull together for the greater good of all residents and businesses.
Three programs were identified in the initial application:

Project 680, a grassroots effort led by Cordova Towne neighborhood activist Ryan Lundquist, which collects everyday items such as socks, underwear and shoes for homeless children in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. The project was named for the 680 children in the school district identified as homeless. Aiming to collect a pair of socks for each of the 680, the community responded by donating over 3,000 pairs of socks in its first effort.

Rancho Cordova Cultural Heritage (Saturday) Schools, a collaborative effort of immigrant parents and the Folsom Cordova Unified School District to preserve and honor arts and culture of mother countries. The project builds bridges between non-English-speaking groups and the community at large, has improved academic performance among the students, and has provided cultural enrichment for the entire population of the city.

The Rancho Cordova City Hall provides a “civic heart” for Rancho Cordova, incubating business and community engagement as well as serving as a home for municipal services. The City Hall project has fostered important civic links as the community matures as a city and is a symbol of change and progress in a city striving to change its image. It is the site of weddings, proms, church services and business meetings in addition to governance.

These projects drew the attention of the judges which selected Rancho Cordova to be among the 25 finalists. The finalist cities were selected based on their identifying and solving society’s challenges. The next step was the 10-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer period.

After Rancho Cordova’s presentation, one of the judges left her seat to shake the hand of and personally thank community activist Ryan Lundquist for the 680 Project. “It was an extremely touching moment, one we’ll never forget,” said Rancho Cordova City Council Member Linda Budge.

The highly coveted All-America City Award was established by the National Civic League of America in 1949 to honor the best role model cities in the country. Winning the All-America City designation is a distinction for a lifetime. The 10 winners were determined after each finalist made a presentation this week in Kansas City.

This is the second year in a row that Rancho Cordova has been a finalist for the prestigious All-America City award. Although it is one of the youngest cities in the competition, Rancho Cordova has excelled developing strong relationships with the many, diverse segments in its community.

Rancho Cordova, incorporated in 2003, will be celebrating its 7th anniversary on July 1, 2010. City Hall is located at 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. Website: www.cityofranchocordova.org; phone: 916-851-8700.

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Each of the 27 communities that were chosen as finalists have spent the week in Kansas City, Missouri culminating in a 10 minute presentation  and a 10 minute question and answer period earlier today. The 2010 All-America City finalists have addressed issues such as serving youth despite financial hurdles, diversifying the labor force, providing affordable housing, and increasing the tax base to fund schools.

The delegation of community members from Rancho Cordova presented three projects that represent the city. Project 680, led by Ryan Lundquist, is a community driven effort that collects much needed, socks, underwear, and shoes for homeless children in the area. Rancho Cordova Cultural Heritage (Saturday) Schools, a collaborative effort of immigrant parents and the Folsom Cordova Unified School District to preserve and honor arts and culture of mother countries. The Rancho Cordova City Hall Project provides a “civic heart” for Rancho Cordova, incubating business and community engagement as well as serving as a home for municipal services.

The full list of 2010 All America City winners include:

Chandler, Arizona

Lynwood, California

Rancho Cordova, California

North Miami, Florida

Acworth, Georgia

Des Moines, Iowa

Salisbury, Maryland

Gastonia, North Carolina

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

El Paso, Texas

What does the delegation think about winning? Aside from being “in awe”, they managed to send these remarks:

As a young city, the youngest in the room, this is a big deal.  This event and everyone here we’ve met, all the                   finalists have been very very inspirational.  It’s also a great honor to receive this award, something we consider             to be the Nobel prize of civic accomplishment.

That’s no small accomplishment for a community that has been through some rough times, and with the help of a little magic has been reinvented into an All America City.

Our City Hall, our “Magic Factory”, part of our winning nomination here–City Hall tonight is filled with our citizens and our community volunteers  watching a live streaming webcast of this event.  They are the real people responsible for this honor.  They are the real awardees tonight.  They are our inspiration and motivation and as of now they are All-America citizens of an All America City.

This award confirms some success for us, but everyone should know, residents, staff, volunteers, that come Monday morning, we’re going to work even harder to improve our community, and continue the Magic.

…  Because in Rancho Cordova, WE MAKE THE MAGIC!!!

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National Civic League Homepage

You can follow the updates on Twitter by searching on Twitter for the hash tag #allamericacity

You can also follow the Rancho Cordova Post on Facebook for updates at www.Facebook.com/RanchoCordovaPost or subscribe here by e-mail.

Vote Now for

Rancho Cordova’s Video entry for All-America City 2010

June 18

Meet the Rancho Cordova All-America City Team

June 14

Rocky Themed All-America City 2010 Warm Up Video

June 11

Watch and Vote by June 18th, 2010 for the Rancho Cordova entry in the All-America City video competition.

Vote for Rancho Cordova’s “We Make the Magic” All-America City Contest Video

Rancho Cordova Prepares to Leave for Kansas City Video

June 10

Rancho Cordova’s Team to Participate in All-America City Finals Competition

Project 680 Video Overview on YouTube

April 6

Rancho Cordova Selected as Finalist for the 2010 All-America City Award

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The winning cities will be selected based on their performance in identifying, discussing, and forming solutions to society’s challenges and the cities’ achievement in resolving them.  Presentations will be rated by a national panel of judges.

The presentation team from Rancho Cordova includes residents plus representatives from the education, government, and faith communities.  They range in age from teenagers to seniors.

“We put together a team that looks like a snapshot of our community,” said Shelly Blanchard, executive director of the Cordova Community Council that successfully coordinated the City’s efforts through the first stage of the prestigious All-America City competition.

“Our written application earned us the finalist title but the presentation in Kansas City will determine if we get the All-America City award,” said Blanchard.

The theme of the Rancho Cordova presentation is “We make the magic!” and focuses on three signature projects in the community in which the power of collaboration is making a difference.

The three projects:

·       Project 680, the grassroots effort led by Cordova Towne neighborhood activist Ryan Lundquist, which collects everyday items such as socks, underwear, and shoes to benefit homeless children in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.  The project draws its name from the 680 children who have been identified as homeless in the school district.

·       Rancho Cordova Cultural Heritage (Saturday) Schools, a collaborative effort of immigrant parents and the Folsom Cordova Unified School District to preserve and honor arts and culture of mother countries.  The project builds bridges between immigrant groups and the community at-large, has improved academic performance among immigrant children, and has provided for cultural enrichment for the entire population of the city.

·       The Rancho Cordova City Hall Project provides a “civic heart” for Rancho Cordova, incubating business and community engagement as well as serving as a home for municipal services.  The City Hall project has fostered important civic links as the community matures as an incorporated city and is a symbol of change and progress in a city striving to change its image.

Team members:

·       David Sander, Rancho Cordova City Council Member and president of the Cordova Community Council

·       Linda Budge, Rancho Cordova City Council Member

·       Ryan Lundquist, founder of Project 680

·       Charlene Hunt, administrator for homeless programs for Folsom Cordova School District

·       Synthia Smith, Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce board member

·       Nadia Kaliyuk, administrator for Cultural Heritage (Saturday) Schools program

·       Vanessa Martinez, Cordova High School senior and Saturday School graduate

·       Alejandra Montelongo, Cordova High School senior and Saturday School graduate

·       Amy Hiramoto, retired school district employee and Cordova Community Council board member.

·       Larry Stafford, Cordova Church of Christ pastor and Cordova Community Council board member

·       Lee Frechette, Cordova Community Council board member

·       MaryEllen Landers, Rancho Cordova resident and First Covenant presentation team

·       Kerry Smith, Rancho Cordova resident and First Covenant presentation team

·       Andy Gee, Rancho Cordova resident and First Covenant presentation team

·       Michelle Cox, Rancho Cordova resident and First Covenant presentation team

·       Ted Gaebler, Rancho Cordova City Manager

·       Curt Haven, City of Rancho Cordova Economic Development Director

·       Marta Boerger, City of Rancho Cordova administrative assistant

·       Melody Mayer, Rancho Cordova resident and Cordova Community Council

·       Shelly Blanchard, Rancho Cordova resident and Cordova Community Council

Although Rancho Cordova is the newest city in Sacramento County, it is the second year in a row that the young city has been a finalist in the highly coveted All-America City competition.  The award was established by the National Civic League of America in 1949 to honor the best role model cities in the country.  Winning the All-America City designation is a distinction for a lifetime.

The City of Rancho Cordova, CA was incorporated in 2003.  City Hall is located at 2729 Prospect Park Drive; (916) 851-8700 (phone), (916) 851-8787 (fax), www.cityofranchocordova.org (website).

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• May 8 – Project 680 Bike Ride: Join Project 680 in an effort to collect socks for homeless students enrolled at Folsom Cordova schools. The bike ride will be at Hagan Park, located at 2197 Chase Drive at 9:30 a.m., and there will be a quick ride lasting about 20 minutes and a long ride lasting about 15 miles. Project 680 is requesting a donation of $5 per rider or $10 per household.
• May 8 – Sunrise Station Farmer’s Market: The farmer’s market formerly at the Sunrise Mall is now located at the light rail station at Folsom Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard. The market features a wide variety of fresh-grown products and will operate from 8 a.m. until noon.
• May 8 and 9 – Southwest Junior Rowing Championships: The championships will be held at Lake Natoma in Gold River starting at 8 a.m. both days.
• May 9 – Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet: Join the Rancho Cordova Mariott for a Mother’s Day buffet in their ballroom. The buffet will be served from 10 a.m.; Mariott is located at 11211 Point East Drive.

To add more events to the calendar, contact editor@ranchocordovapost.com.

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In addition to regional events such as the Bicycle Film Festival and the Amgen Tour of California, Rancho Cordova will be home to the Project 680 bike ride for socks on May 8 and the Walk, Wag & Roll on May 22. The bike ride for socks  will be held at Hagan Park at 9:30 a.m. and will consist of two bike rides– the first ride will be a short 20 minute ride, and the second will be a 30 mile ride for more experienced cyclists. The Walk, Wag & Roll is presented by the Bicycling Advocates of Rancho Cordova and will be held at Stone Creek Park at 9 a.m.; there will be a 5k fun run or walk as well as a 10 mile bike ride at the event.

Erik Johnson, the media affairs coordinator for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, is directing all residents and workers in the Sacramento area to www.mayisbikemonth.com. On the website, Johnson said, cyclists can register for Bike Month and pledge miles that will add on to their goal of cycling one million miles this month. In addition, cyclists who log their miles will be entered into prize drawings every Tuesday; prizes for the weekly drawing include socks and $25 gift cards to bike shops. Cyclists that log their miles every week in May will be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a $250 gift certificate to a bike shop or an entry into the Emigrant Trail Bike Trek. 

Those wanting to start bicycling but don’t know what routes to take also have a trip planning resource online. “The trip planner gives the option of either the most direct route, or the most bike-friendly route,” Johnson said. “The planner is built on local government data, user information and a community forum to offer the best information for novice and veteran bicyclists.”

To find out what events are happening in May throughout the region, an events calendar has been added to the May is Bike Month website. The site also includes cycling guides, stories and challenges for employers or schools.

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• June 10, 2010 – Rancho Cordova’s Team to Participate in All-America City Finals Competition

The 50-year-old neighborhood between Highway 50 and White Rock Road is home to an active community association. It was the birthplace for Project 680, a nonprofit founded to help homeless students through fundraisers and clothes drives. Neighborhood walks, caroling, garage sales, a softball tournament and barbecues show off the community spirit. That is only the visible tip of the involvement iceburg, however. Behind the scenes, residents have brought meals to sick neighbors and watch out for each other. A blog, website and e-group keep people connected.

“Strengthening a community simply recognizes that relationships rather than high fences are what is most important,” says Ryan Lundquist, founder of the Cordova Towne Neighborhood Association. The southern California native moved to Sacramento in 2002. He bought his home in Cordova in 2004 because he was looking for affordability. The median home price in Cordova Towne is $135,000 according to Trulia, a real estate tracking service. Former military housing now acts largely as entry level and rental unit inventory.

“I lucked out,” Lundquist said. Lundquist, a real estate appraiser, praises the neighborhood for it’s diverse mix of first-time homebuyers, families and retirees. “It is multi-cultural and multi-generational,” he says.

That diversity adds to the energy of the community, but can bring communication challenges. “We have to be intentional about talking to each other,” Lundquist says. Communication is always a challenge when people are busy, but language barriers in a community that counts Spanish, Russian and Armenian as primary languages in many households can exacerbate the problem. “A thumbs-up can only go so far,” Lundquist quips.

Language barriers didn’t stop neighbors from being proactive about covering tagging. A painting day drew 40 people out of their houses on a weekend to keep graffiti in check and neighbors connected. Volunteers also landscaped two entrance corners to the tract. Next, the community plans a beautification project for tiling the entry monument.

All of these community connections and clean-up efforts have an impact on crime rates as well. The total number of crimes in 2009 was down to 73 from highs in 2006 and 2007 of 81 and 85 respectively, according to Gina Hounihan, a certified crime analyst for the Rancho Cordova Police Department. Motor theft, in particular decreased from 14 to 9 cases from 2006 to 2009. Robbery and burglary were also down.

Lundquist hopes to soon see work on a community park restarted. “That could act as the visible focal point for the neighborhood,” he says.

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The 11th annual Community Volunteer Awards will be held on Friday, February 6th at 6 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall  (2729 Prospect Park Drive). Tickets only cost $20 and include the awards ceremony and the after party.

Those being honored at the ceremony include:

Distinguished Community Business Partner: Ed Fund

Distinguished Community Service: Bruce and Lori Smith

Distinguished Faith Leadership: First Covenant ACTS

Distinguished Service to Youth: Ryan Lundquist

Distinguished Rancho Cordova Educator: Stacy Leitner

All American Fourth of July Volunteer: Wayne Harmer

Rancho Cordovan of the Year: Joe Gilbert

In our busy schedules and ever growing to-do lists, these people made time in their fast paced lives to serve the community. Join the Cordova Community Council in recognizing their efforts and the impact they have made on those around them.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Community Volunteer Awards, please contact Shelly Blanchard at (916) 273-5704.

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Yesterday was a very exciting day because a friend and I were able to go to Sunrise Elementary School in the Anatolia area of Rancho Cordova to say thank you to some all-star students who gathered items for Project 680. Three kindergarten classes ended up collecting 154 pairs of gloves, 67 hats, and 11 scarves for local homeless students. Way to go kids (and teachers)! We are proud of you!

This is such great news and I wanted to share it with you. It’s just too good on so many levels, don’t you think?

Please know though that I don’t mention this to brag or boast in any way. I’m not looking for public kudos either. I just think it’s so important to take a stand for struggling kids as well as find a vision in life that makes a real difference. I am so thankful to be actively learning to live out a vision with locals in Rancho Cordova and Folsom through Project 680. That’s easy to write about.

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Project 680, a grassroots organization aimed at bettering the lives of the many homeless students in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, spearheaded a cause and raised thousands of dollars that will be given in gift cards to homeless students good for the purchase of new shoes. With an original goal of $1500, the founders of Project 680 had faith that the community would support the shoe drive as they have supported the previous goals of the group. The grand total of monies collected is $3,601. 51.

Payless Shoe Source, located off of Zinfandel (by Walmart), is offering the student recipients of the gift cards the by one get one half off special. The students will be able to pick out a brand new pair of shoes just in time for the chilly winter weather. Between 150 and 200 local homeless students will be able to go shoe shopping, many for the first time in years, because of our generous community.

The Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce also played a major part in the fund raising for Payless gift cards. In a recent golf tournament, the Chamber of Commerce raised and additional $1000 that has been donated as well.

Ryan Lundquist, the creator of Project 680, quoted Mother Theresa during the small ceremony when the checks were given to Payless on Thursday morning. “We can do no great things, only small things with great love”.

I’m proud to be a part of a community that is so ready and willing to share their great love.

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The bike ride helped to raise money to buy shoes for homeless children enrolled at the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, and Starbucks and the Rancho Cordova Post came to support the cause. Project 680 has posted a photo slideshow and a Fox40 video of the event on their website.

The shoe drive’s goal was to raise $1,500 for over 100 pairs of new shoes. Ryan Lundquist, the project’s coordinator, said that amount has been exceeded, thanks to the efforts of the community.

“We are so proud of the community,” Lundquist said on the project’s website. “It was phenomenal to see community buy-in for the sake of local students in need.”

Project 680 decided to collect money in lieu of shoes so children could pick out their own pairs at Payless. The organization, as well as the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, will present a check to Payless Shoe Source at 10697 Folsom Boulevard on Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. Project 680 invites anyone who has participated in the shoe drive to attend and celebrate the community’s accomplishment.

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Mayor Skoglund started off the address by thanking and acknowledging City Council and City employees for working together to make Rancho Cordova the best city that it can be. The financial department earned extra praise for keeping the budget balanced in a time when balanced city budgets are rare.

In April, 2010, the once a decade census will be taken. “It is imperative that every resident be counted”, Mayor Skoglund focused on the importance and benefits of having every person be counted. Federal and State money will be dispersed based on population size. This money will go towards schools and parks, among other things.

With a brief discussion of the business economy in Rancho Cordova, Mayor Skoglund spent some time on the renovated and new businesses that have opened recently. Target is seeing record breaking daily sales compared to the old store that closed for remodeling last February. Two pharmacies, Walgreens and CVS, are the first of their kind to open their doors in Rancho Cordova.

“Rancho Cordova is a community of many communities”, Mayor Skoglund said, referring to the many ethnicities and cultures in Rancho Cordova. The core word of  “community” is “unity”, a common goal shared by the group, Skoglund said. Citizens in Rancho Cordova exemplify this spirit. Many organizations including Project 680, programs put on by local churches, and events hosted by the Cordova Community Council reach out to and support the various communities in Rancho Cordova.

Did you attend the State of the City Address? Let us know what you thought by leaving a comment.

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Project 680, a local effort aimed at helping homeless children in practical ways, now has a unique bottlecap magnet available for a $10 donation. The bottlecaps are produced by  www.bottlecapmagnets.com and are filled with a high quality resin similar to glass. All proceeds from the bottlecaps will go toward Project 680′s shoe drive.

The project’s shoe drive aims to raise $1,500 to provide 100 new pairs of shoes to the area’s homeless students. Project 680 is accepting money instead of shoe donations so the students will be able to pick out the shoes of their choice at Payless Shoe Source. They are currently accepting cash, checks and Payless gift cards; checks should be made out to the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership and sent to 10267 Croydon Way, Rancho Cordova, Calif., 95670.

The shoe drive will finish off with a bike ride starting in Hagan Park on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. The Rancho Cordova Post will be providing orange juice for the event, Starbucks at Capital Village will be providing coffee, and Councilmember David Sander will be riding along for the cause.

The Rancho Cordova Post currently has bottlecap magnets available for anyone interested in purchasing one. All proceeds, minus the shipping cost of $1.73, will be forwarded to the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership; Click here to be taken to a secure Paypal checkout.

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The organization is hoping to raise $1,500 for 100 pairs of shoes by Nov. 10, but they will accept any donations to the cause throughout November. Project 680 will also be holding a bike ride on Nov. 7 from Hagan Park to River Bend Park (formerly Goethe Park) starting at 10:30 a.m. for the cause; Starbucks in Capital Village will be providing free coffee for riders, and Project 680 is asking for a $5 donation to participate.

Project 680 is named from a statistic provided by the Folsom-Cordova Unified School District last year. The school district reported there were 680 homeless students attending their schools in the area for the 2008-2009 school year; the number has increased to 783 for 2009-2010.

Last school year, Project 680 held a drive to collect 680 pairs of underwear for homeless students; their final tally was 3,198. Ryan Lundquist, Project 680′s coordinator, said he is optimistic about this year’s drive.

“This is going to be great fun and a fantastic and creative way to get shoes on the feet of local homeless students,” Lundquist said on the organization’s website.

The organization will also be selling unique bottlecap magnets for a $10 donation to promote the cause. Anyone interested in reserving a magnet or donating to this year’s drive can contact the organization at info@project680.org or (916) 595-3735.

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The following interview took place in September 2009 over email between Ryan Lundquist of Project 680 and Mr. Zachary Andrews.

RL: Where did you grow up, and when did you come to Rancho Cordova?
Zach: I was born in Oakland and the way I ended up in Rancho Cordova was I was sent to a foster home.

RL: What year did you graduate Cordova High School?
Zach: I graduated Cordova High in 2003.

RL: When did you start playing basketball, and did you ever imagine you’d be playing professionally?
Zach: Believe it or not, I actually started playing basketball late, which was 7th grade. I was a troubled child growing up with no one who cared about me, so I didn’t care too much about myself. I didn’t feel wanted in any way. I didn’t feel nor did I know what love was. So finally something caught my eye which led me to my path to do well. I never imagined I’d be playing professionally. It is a real blessing to travel the world and earn a living.

RL: What was your living situation like during High School?
Zach: My living situation during High School was tough. I was going back and forth from my home to friends’ houses, and eventually it was just going to friends’ houses. I shared clothes with my friends – everything except shoes, but shared underwear, shorts, jeans, just so I could fit in at school. It was very tough for me because I had siblings I wanted to take care of, but could not because I could not take care of myself. The friends I lived with I consider my family very highly because they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

RL: What was it like to be “couch surfing” as a teenager? How did that impact you?
Zach: It was hard for me to come out and tell people I was going home. The only people that really knew were my friends and the football coaches. The coaches [knew] because I could not afford to pay for cleats or jerseys. So that was very hard because I did not want to share that with them. I was scared I would have to move.

RL: What encouraged you to an athletic career? Was there a particular person or experience?
Zach: I never was encouraged to pursue an athletic career because I felt I wasn’t good enough. I honestly didn’t plan to go to college until a junior college coach, the only coach that saw my potential, asked me to come play for him. This was shocking to me because I was not advertised at all like that, so there was something that would not let me give up when I wanted to, which got me a scholarship to Bradley University.

RL: What was it like to help lead your college team at Bradley University to the Sweet 16?
Zach: It was like an unbelievable dream that you could not wake up from. And to be a part of that Sweet 16 experience – I don’t think any other words can describe what it felt like to lead a team to the Sweet 16 that had not been in years. And the guys that I shared it with made it worth the training and dedication.

RL: How would you like to apply your B.A. degree in Theatre Arts?
Zach: I would love to apply my B.A. degree in Theatre Arts by doing movies on the big screen with huge actors one day. But until then I’m going to see how far I can go with playing basketball. But movies is my next goal I plan to accomplish.

RL: So many kids in similar situations don’t make it. What made you different? How were you able to overcome some of the challenges you faced?
Zach: I believe it is the people you choose to surround yourself with that allow you to choose your path and overcome challenges, when it comes to being a statistic in the environment we are given in similar situations as mine.

RL: Is it true that you can do back flips?
Zach: LOL. Yes, it is true I can do back flips.

RL NOTE: Zach is 6’8″ by the way.

RL: What types of things did the office of the District Liaison for Homeless Services do for you during High School?
Zach: They cater to all of us in any way they can. I was in need of a new book bag (which I still have I believe), and could not afford a yearbook every year, among other school materials. And if I just wanted to talk, her and her staff would make the day even better by spending time with us even it if was for a minute or two.

RL: How has your background shaped you?
Zach: My background shaped me to appreciate myself and others more. And understand that the world is not always after you – it only prepares you. So in my words it is not about what you were, it is about what you’re going to become if you believe and don’t give up. There is always going to be someone that loves and cares about you no matter what your situation is or how you were raised.

RL: What advice would you offer to homeless kids?
Zach: My advice I would offer homeless children would be to stay strong through the roughest and toughest times. There will be times when you want to give up, and that time is the worst because everything negative seems to come out of nowhere and sit on your shoulders, which will leave you feeling like you have no one. And that’s when it counts the most to be the strongest and believe in yourself if nobody will.

RL: Why do you think some homeless kids lose hope?
Zach: It’s simple, we “homeless children” lose hope because the love and motivation we want is not given, but all the stress of thinking everything will be okay when it is not is [given]. Also, the motivation and love we have for ourselves is not enough and we search for it at close friends’ homes, school, and anywhere we can to feel wanted – to escape our living situation.

RL: In our efforts to reach out to local students who might be in a similar situation you were in, what advice do you have for us?
Zach: Advice I have for you when it comes to your efforts to reach out to us is stay consistent, understanding, and concerned because it shows us that you truly care about us and our needs as a person. And doing so allows it to be easier to open up to you and how we feel – especially if they’re females.

RL: Where do you think you’d be right now if you didn’t have a supportive coach, teachers, loving siblings and friends (and their families) to help you out during High School?
Zach: If I did not have them believing in me, there is a possibility I would have had children at an early age, dropped out of High School. Selling drugs to get money to raise money for my child. Maybe in and out of jail.

RL: Where do you see yourself doing in the next ten years?
Zach: In the next ten years I see myself married with a gorgeous wife and child, financially stable, in the NBA, and pursuing my movie role in a summer blockbuster film.

We know Mr. Andrews is very busy playing basketball in Europe, and we appreciate the time he gave for an interview with Project 680, as well as his openness. What did you think? Does anything he said stand out to you? Comments are welcome.

Above photo courtesy of Bradley University Website.

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“Let’s be honest, this is not great news,” Project 680 Organizer Ryan Lundquist said on the organization’s website. “All we can do is blaze forward with vision and persist in our efforts to support and empower local homeless students.”

Project 680 is a unique program that relies on the community’s efforts to help homeless students in the area. The organization will accept monetary donations, but also asks for practical ideas and hands-on ways to help the students directly.

The organization recently completed an underwear drive for homeless students. Their goal was to collect 680 pairs of underwear; their final tally was 3,198 pairs in July.

Project 680 will be holding a meeting in mid-to-late September to prepare for the 2009-2010 school year. In the meantime, those interested in becoming involved in the effort can learn more from a Project 680 introductory video or contact Ryan Lundquist here for more information.

The organization’s name will not be changing its name due to the rising figure.

“Our courage will not be deflated and we will not be deterred in our quest,” Lundquist said. “Bottom line.”

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Project 680 was born from a group of Rancho Cordova residents with a heart for children and some guidance from the FCUSD Homeless Liaison. The first Project 680 drive brought in over 3,000 pairs of socks. More recently, the Homeless Liaison discussed the need for underwear- something so many of us take for granted. Only new underwear still in packaging will be accepted for health and safety reasons, and there are numerous donation sites through out our community.

The final drop off day will be May 8th, with a counting party from 7-8 pm to finalize the total. If you would like to volunteer your math skills (or calculator skills) please don’t be shy. Businesses, organizations, neighborhood associations and churches are encouraged to partner with Project 680 and contribute both awareness and underwear.

Stop by the lemonade stand any time between 9 and 11 a.m. to help man the stand or drop off your donation. If lemonade just won’t do it for the over-caffeinated adults, coffee will be available as well.

For more information about Project 680, guidelines about what underwear is needed,  and how you can become involved, please see the Project 680 website.

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Because it’s more effective to focus on simple things people can contribute, the ever growing group that makes up Project 680 again partnered with the Homeless Liaison from the school district in recent weeks. The current drive is to collect something very necessary that many students are lacking; underwear.

The goal is to collect 680 pairs of underwear for elementary, middle and high school students. All underwear must be new and only underwear are being collected-other items can be donated to the schools through the school district. There are currently 11 drop off locations that are collecting the donated underwear through out our community. Collection will continue through May 8th and there are still opportunities to become a drop off location. Businesses are encouraged to spread the word and become drop off locations.

“I was very surprised to find that there are so many homeless students in our community, and with Project 680, I really wanted to help make a difference.  To think that something so simple can improve a student’s day, who wouldn’t want to help out,” Gloria Bellamy says.

For more information on becoming a drop off location or how to donate, please see the official Project 680 website.

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Did you know that the Folsom Cordova Unified School District has a program to assist homeless students? Did you know that last year they served 680 students within the district? It is hard to grasp that so many local kids are struggling with something as basic as a stable place to live. It’s the truth though and so the aim of Project 680 is to partner with the office of the District Liaison for Homeless Services to find simple and relevant ways to support these students.

What is a homeless student? “Homeless” is defined as “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate residence.” The youth that the school district serves are living in unstable places like motels, the streets, in tents, in cars, in RVs in parking lots, in homes without power or water, in homes without a parent or legal guardian, etc… These are kids who reside within FCUSD territory within the cities of Rancho Cordova and Folsom.

The community at large is invited on Wednesday March 11th at 6:30pm to attend the Project 680 Community Forum. The format of the meeting will be a brief presentation by the District Liaison for Homeless Services, Q&A, and discussion. The event will be hosted at Cordova Neighborhood Church at 10600 Coloma Road in Rancho Cordova. Project 680 is supported by the Cordova Towne Neighborhood Association, local residents and businesses, churches, and Socks & Gloves - a homeless outreach.

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I have been especially awed over the last couple weeks by the generosity of our fellow Rancho Cordovans. As a drop off house for Project 680, I was anxious to see the sock total hit the magic number, 680. There were 680 students that the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Homeless Services department provided clothing to last year and this year, the District Liaison had said that socks often go overlooked. There was a need that a small group of incredible people realized the community could do something about. On December 13th, we counted a total of 3,144 pairs of donated socks. Churches, businesses, and families came together to donate socks for the kids in our community who needed them.

Another amazing event I was able to be a part of was the Skoglund Family Toy Drive. I had volunteered to help with the event, and got there a little bit after 8 in the morning last Wednesday. Parents would be able to start going in to the center and picking out toys at 10, but by the time I arrived there were already 30 people waiting in line. I had crowd control duty and was stationed at the back of the line to keep some semblance of order, but I did have the opportunity to walk through the rooms that would double as the toy store. It was amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many toys in one place outside an actual toy store.

All of the toys were donated by people and organizations in Rancho Cordova. It was all the more touching because of the current economy. There are plenty of families that are stretching their paychecks to pay for Christmas presents for their own children. To see that many donated toys for the families in our community made me realize what a wonderful place we live in.

Rancho Cordova may not be perfect. The city is constantly changing and growing and evolving. But, I for one,  couldn’t be more thankful for the people that volunteer their time and money to ensure that Rancho Cordova is the kind of place where we can be proud to live and raise our families.

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A group in Cordova Towne learned that there were 680 homeless students in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District that were served last year by FCUSD’s Homeless Services. One of the greater needs the District Liaison mentioned were socks. That’s when Project 680 was born. The goal- collect 680 pairs of socks for the students in our community and promote awareness of the needs of our local students.

A little over a month ago the project began. Residents across the community placed sock drop boxes on their front porches. Various businesses kept boxes in their offices. Schools collected. Families collected. Neighborhood associations and churches collected. It was truly a community effort.

On the evening of December 13 in a packed living room, the sock count was performed. One corner of the room was dedicated to the mountain of socks. The impressive site included more than one black garbage bag full of socks and the counters split into small groups to conquer the formidable task. Minutes into the count, organizers realized their goal had been surpassed- 680 pairs was a distant memory as the total crept higher. Over 3,000 pairs of socks had been donated to the cause! That’s 6,000 feet that will be a bit warmer this winter, and 3,000 students who will be touched by this communities efforts.

Some of the contributing groups and organizations include the City of Rancho Cordova employees, various churches, Soroptimist Club or Rancho Cordova,  Peter J. Shields Elementary school and many more.

The District Liaison for Homeless Services picked up the socks, all 3,144 pairs on Wednesday, December 17.

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If nothing brings in the holiday spirit like a musical, then count your blessings because Rancho Cordova is home to many vocally talented folks. Check out the musical “What Child is This” at the Cordova Church of Christ. Performances will be held on December 12 -13 and December 20-21 in the evening. For more information click here.  Or you can visit First Covenant Church to see their Christmas program, “An Evening in December” which runs from December 3rd through the 7th.  For more information on this program, click here.

Perhaps you’d like to relax and enjoy the finer things that Rancho has to offer (while supporting a great cause, of course.) For the people who would like to “don we now, our gay apparel”, the upcoming Folsom Cordova Community Partnership event, A Taste of December, could be just the thing. With gourmet foods, local wines, live music and a silent auction, this elegant fundraiser benefits the youth the Partnership serves as well as creating an evening of delights.

If your family wants to celebrate in the spirit of giving, there are plenty of programs and organizations in our area that would appreciate the help. Project 680 has the goal of collecting 680 pairs of socks for homeless students in our school district. For more information on how to become involved or to find locations to drop off new socks, click here. The Rancho Cordova Food Locker will gladly accept non perishable food donations. For more information on the Food Locker please call 364-8973. Currenly, they need baby food and diapers, fruit & vegetables (canned or jarred are great). They are open Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and the public can drop off the food items during these times. There are toy drives, food drives, and clothing drives going on across our community. If you’d like to become involved, contact your community/neighborhood association as they will have the most current list of activities in your area. If you don’t know who to contact to reach your neighborhood association please email Michelle [at] RanchoCordovaPost [dot] com, and I can point you in the right direction.

If your church, business, or organization has an event that you’d like added to this list or to our community calendar, please feel free to contact me.

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This group of caring citizens decided to do a sock drive to help ease the financial burden on families and be a blessing to the youth in our district. They will be aiming to raise 680 pairs of new socks through December 13th and all community members are invited to get involved. Even with tight times in our economy, we can all do something to make life a little more comfortable for others.

The students the school district serves are living in unstable places like motels, in tents, cars, in RVs and in homes without power or water. These are all students who live in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

There are various drop off locations throughout our community to make donating brand new socks for students as easy as possible. For more information on Project 680, click here.

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