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November 2015 White Pony Express: Closing the Gap Between Waste and Want By Jody Morgan
White Pony Express (WPE) was founded in 2013 to close the gap between food wasted on a daily basis and the growing number of Contra Costa residents struggling to survive on insufficient rations. The all-volunteer organization has rescued over two million pounds of comestibles including meat, dairy, fresh produce, and prepared products and distributed them to individuals for whom most of these items were previously unattainable. Recognizing additional needs of the population they serve, WPE added a Free General Store in 2014 using Mobile Boutiques to make new and gently used clothing, toys, and children’s books accessible to clients unable to reach conventional donation centers. By providing retailers happy to give with
Serving Danville Lighting of the Old Oak Tree Friday, November 27th, 5:15-8:30pm
The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Danville present the Annual Lighting of the Old Oak Tree on Friday, November 27th beginning at 5:15PM. The lighting of the 65 foot, over 300 year old Old Oak Tree is a tradition with strong roots in the Town of Danville. The celebration includes Father Christmas, Snow Angel, music, and merriment. San Ramon Valley High School Chorus will lead the musical countdown to the ceremonial lighting of the tree, officiated by Father Christmas and Snow Angel at 6:15pm. Following the tree lighting, join the parade along Prospect and Hartz Avenues towards Downtown Danville where musical entertainment and refreshments will be provided at stores, shops, and restaurants.
San Ramon Chronicles: Stories of Bygone Days Beverly Lane’s Latest Valley History Book By Jody Morgan
Volunteers unload delivery vans in a matter of minutes for sorting and repacking
a cost-free, dependable method for delivery to those in need, WPE has earned the gratitude of both donors and recipients. Officially established on September 22, 2013, WPE began with founder Carol Weyland Conner’s realization that providing transportation free of charge was the key to connecting local retailers whose excess food often went to waste with Contra Costa County organizations serving those in need. When first approached, organizations were cautiously enthused. They wondered how an all-volunteer start-up with no paid employees could make this vision work. Executive Director Gary Conner smiles as he recalls overhearing conversations expressing amazement as WPE exceeded expectations, collecting food seven days a week and getting it to end users within two hours of pick-up, as promised. How was this possible? Conner explains, “When we opened our hands in generosity, generosity poured in to us. A faith group provided space and paid the utility bills. Volunteers donated a computer and printer. Loaves and Fishes donated a commercial refrigerator and freezer. A volunteer gave us money to buy a refrigerated van.” In two years time, non-profit WPE has grown exponentially. The 400 regular volunteers supported by 100+ donors deliver almost 5,000 pounds of nutritious food per day to 50+ organizations throughout Contra Costa County serving shelters, people with disabilities, recovery centers, food pantries, and cooking classes for lowincome students. As of October 1, 2015, the Free General Store had held 30 Mobile Boutiques, distributing 80,000 items of clothing and 40,000 toys, books and games
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Beverly Lane, currently Curator of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, adds a new book to her work on Valley history with the release this fall by The History Press of San Ramon Chronicles: Stories of Bygone Days. The text begins by touching briefly on life in the shadow of Mount Diablo before California was ceded to the United States in 1848 at the conclusion of the war with Mexico, just as the Gold Rush Backed by the Museum of the San Ramon Valley's display, Beverly Lane introduces San Ramon Chronicles. began. Continuing to detail the development of San Ramon from a sparsely populated village to a city of some 75,000 inhabitants, Lane’s latest book is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered who the early settlers were whose names are commemorated on contemporary street signs, what happened to the original village center, or how plans to give now sprawling San Ramon a cohesive identity have fared in recent years. Even with numerous carefully documented historical articles to her credit as well as two books and a booklet, Lane realized she had many more stories to tell. “After 30 years of looking at and researching the history of the whole Valley,” she explains, “I want to share more information which now sits quietly in file folders.” When she approached The History Press about a publication on San Ramon, Volume VII - Number 1 the publisher immediately endorsed the project 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, because no books on San Ramon had previously Alamo, CA 94507 been written. San Ramon Valley, the volume Lane (925) 405-6397 co-authored with Ralph Cozine (Arcadia PublishFax (925) 406-0547 ing, 2005) covers in photographic images Alamo Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher and Danville as well as San Ramon. editor@ Each chapter in Lane’s latest endeavor is yourmonthlypaper.com written to be complete in itself. “I like the ‘column’ approach because, as I have talked The opinions expressed herein belong the writers, and do not necessarily with people who read local history books,” toreflect that of Danville Today News. Beverly notes, “I have found few of them read Danville Today News is not for the content of any of through the entire book at one time. They are responsible the advertising herein, nor does
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publication imply endorsement.