Dear Cathryn and the Ceres Community,

For over six years, Ceres has been like a second family to me. When I first started volunteering at Ceres in February of 2011, I was a wide-eyed 13-year-old who had barely set foot in a kitchen. I didn't know what to expect. I initially joined because I needed community service hours for my synagogue, and Ceres sounded infinitely better than any other option. From the minute I set foot in the kitchen for the orientation, I knew that Ceres was going to be a place I volunteered at for many years to come. I was welcomed with open arms by Margaret, Chef Rob, and some truly amazing Teen Leaders. For the first couple of months in the kitchen, I barely talked. A Teen Leader took me under her wing, and I flourished. I came out of my shell and helped bring the Ceres spirit to every teen or Mentor Chef that walked in the doors. 

In the years that followed, I became a Teen Leader myself and watched many other fabulous teens mature and grow. I had the distinct pleasure of helping Ceres move from a small rented kitchen in Sebastopol to a facility that has been their own for several years. I cannot thank the Ceres staff enough for the honor of asking me and my sister, Coco, to help start the Santa Rosa kitchen and Café at the SAY Dream Center. It was truly amazing to help a whole other group of teens learn valuable skills while doing great things for those in need.