In May 2014, The Volunteer Center welcomed the first group of community youth volunteers from the Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) and a beautiful friendship was formed. In partnering with Bianca Padilla, program coordinator for JPO, and Gary Stailey, youth community volunteer coordinator, the Commons and TVC have benefited from hundreds of ours of community service while helping community youth to build skills in gardening, construction and communication.

In the past year, community youth volunteers have built our 12X18' greenhouse, planted and harvested close to 750 pounds of produce distributed to families in our food pantry, planted over 60 fruit and flowering trees for our orchard, and much more! We are so grateful to have sprouted this invaluable partnership and relish having young people at the Commons every week!