TEMECULA, CA — Ponte Winery invites the community to lend a helping hand this summer to the children of Oak Grove, a 24-hour residential abuse recovery center for children ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old. On August 21st and August 22nd, Ponte associates, Wine Club members and friends will be heading to Murrieta-based Oak Grove to help improve the center’s garden. From planting new crops to building new benches, the volunteers will be up to their elbows in dirt…all for a great cause. Together, the associates, members and friends will donate over 200 volunteer hours to this project.
“There are nearly three million reports of child abuse made annually, with around 32 children being removed from their homes every hour,” explains Ponte Winery owner Claudio Ponte. “There are also over 75,000 children living in the Inland Empire with a foster family waiting to be adopted. When I learned these facts, my heart and the hearts of the entire staff at the winery were touched. We knew we had to do something to help make the lives of these children a little brighter, and we are very excited to devote these days in August to the children at Oak Grove. We invite anyone who wants to help to join us, be it for one hour or the entire two days.”
Oak Grove is one of many organizations devoted to suffering children with whom Ponte Winery has teamed up. Others include Rancho Damacitas, Arrow Child & Family Ministries and My Stuff Bags Foundation.
“I’m really looking forward to getting my hands dirty,” explains Ponte’s administrative assistant Patricia Kilburn. “As an associate of the winery it is a real pleasure to be given the opportunity to serve in this capacity alongside my co-workers. I’m bringing my two children and best friend for both days. This experience is important to me because it allows me to show my children the value of service. It’s one thing to say ‘we care,’ it’s another thing to actually show we care through service. I’m hoping my kids will walk away from this experience knowing the importance of our service.”
The Oak Grove Family Service Day will take place on Friday, August 21st and Saturday, August 22nd from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Lunch will be provided to volunteers, and students with community service hour requirements may bring their forms for an Oak Grove associate to sign. It is recommended that volunteers dress comfortably. Please contact Ragan Erickson at rerickson@pontewinery.com if you are interested in volunteering.
For more information about the Oak Grove Service Day or any of the organizations Ponte has teamed up with, visit www.pontewinery.com. For more information about Oak Grove visit www.oakgrove.org.