The Outreach Farm Project began in the Spring of 2009. This was about the time when the recession's impact was devastating families throughout the United States and over taxing the resources of local outreach programs for in need in southern California. At that time Rancho Community Church worked with the Orange County Rescue Mission to create the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission to help meet the
needs of those struggling to obtain the basics of food and shelter. There was a large shortage of food to meet the needs of those going without in the region and although there were some dry goods there was very little fresh produce available to fill in basic nutritional needs. Because of this gap the Outreach Farm Project was born. Approximately 3 acres were dedicated in partnership with a local flower farm and the farm manager's family to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to help supplement the Rescue Mission's food distribution program. The entire program works on donations and volunteers for everything from the ground preparation, the seeds and supplies to the labor to work the ground and harvest the crops. The first year yielded just over 30,000 pounds of fresh produce. By learning from the first year's crop the 2010 yield was increased to 50,000 pounds and the 2011 & 2012 crops produced 75,000 pounds each. All of the produce grown from this project is now donated directly to the Community Mission of Hope for distribution throughout the southern California region.
