Servicing Every Soul / S&S Friendly Ranch
Is a ten-acre, Black owned-and-operated ranch and agricultural non-profit educational program located in the Tijuana River Valley, a rural community in the southern section of San Diego, California. It is dedicated to empowering youth with the skills to cultivate food and develop a connection with the land. The food grown is primarily delivered to local families through its Nutrient-Dense Food Security Program. It received a $4,999 grant to build a self-service, solar-powered refrigerated farm stand in order to provide consistent access to fresh, affordable food for customers. The farm stand also integrates rainwater catchment from the stand’s roof to irrigate a native plant garden that will be planted around the farm stand.
“Key components of the stand, including rainwater harvesting, solar-powered refrigeration, and active sales of farm products, have been completed. The farm stand has become a community hub, promoting both food security and local connection. Continued support is focused on completing permanent shelving and educational signage to fully realize the stand’s potential as a sustainable community asset,” said President & Chief Friendly Officer Frank Buncom IV.
