In a rural community neighbors rely on each other, this is a tradition from our agricultural roots. And that tradition continues today in the Capay Valley Region. When a farmer needs a little extra help harvesting a crop they call on their neighbors to come out for the day to help. The community works together to help a neighbor that is struggling. Neighbors come together to raise their children together.

RISE Inc. (Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Incorporated) has been helping neighbors help neighbors in the Capay Valley Region for nearly 25 years. RISE serves the rural community to enhance the quality of life and opportunity for self-sufficiency. As a public-benefit non-profit RISE provides a myriad of programs for newborns and mothers to seniors.

For the past 10 years RISE in collaboration with the Esparto Unified School District has provided an After School Program and Summer Day Camp for Kindergarten through 5^th grade. Over time this program has grown to include Middle School students up to 8^th grade. The children that attend these programs learn life skills, enjoy a safe environment for socializing with their peers, and participate in enriching activities.

Over the past year the RISE After School Program has been working with the Capay Valley Farm Shop and other local growers to provide healthy fresh local produce for snacks and meals, while creating lasting relationships with local farmers. Youth have also visited farms and farmers in our region, planted and harvested from their own garden, planned and prepared healthy meals, taught their peers about healthy eating, and sampled many new foods. With the help of generous donations from the Capay Valley Farm Shop and a Sierra Health Foundation Responsive Grant these youth have absorbed this new knowledge and experience, they have become food ambassadors to peers and at home.

By Chelsea Becker, RISE After School Program Coordinator