09/01/2026
🌱 This is what giving back looks like. 🌱
At HOPE–Esperanza, we are blessed to distribute food to families throughout our community—and there is something especially wonderful about being able to share fresh, locally grown produce.
This season, two incredible farming families approached us with a beautiful idea. Jan and Ernie Mehl, along with Dick Schroeder and his granddaughter, Ellie Dressel, planted a piece of land with the intention of harvesting everything they grew and donating it to HOPE–Esperanza. Their hope was simple: to help us place fresh, nutritious food directly into the hands of our neighbors.
Seeds for this generous project were donated by 's Nursery Lawn and Garden Valley Co-op, and the Experiment Station, making this a true community effort from the very beginning.
Fresh produce is amazing. Period. But this gift represents so much more than food. It represents families using their land, knowledge, skills, time, and hearts to care for people they may never even meet.
To everyone who planted, watered, tended, harvested, and donated: thank you. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for your generous hearts. Thank you for believing that what we each have can be used to make life a little better for someone else.
What an inspiring example of community taking care of community. This is HOPE in action. 💚🌽😋🥒
