Day of Service Honoring Edgar Santa Cruz - April 22, 2023

https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2023-04-17/day...

CCE Monroe and partnering organizations are organizing a Day of Service to honor our dear friend, colleague, and community champion Edgar Santa Cruz, and his faithful companion Rosey. 

Several community service project opportunities have been posted and are now available for volunteer signups.  To register, use the SignUpGenius link below.  Registration closes end of day, Tuesday, 4/18.

Edgar joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and has been serving as Co-Chair of the Fund Development Committee. The energy Edgar brought to the Board, and the countless ways he supported the CCE Monroe staff inspired each of us. Edgar was always the first to say “I’ll be there,” whether it was to lead a workshop, carry tables at an event, serve on countless hiring committees, support the youth and young adults we serve; he never turned down an opportunity to lend a hand. 

Each of our Board Members and Staff have numerous stories to tell of the impact Edgar’s life has had on us and our community. He was a true leader. Let us remember our dear friend and community champion by reflecting Edgar’s energy, compassion, and genuine love for others.

Our sincere condolences to all the people and organizations Edgar’s life touched. We will truly miss him. 

      

An Interview w/ Edgar SantaCruz

Staff/Board Remembrances

Marci Muller -

Edgar, formerly with Cameron Community Ministries and most recently with Foodlink, was an incredibly energetic, passionate and committed member of the Rochester community. This past fall, while he was in between jobs, Edgar, who was a CCE Monroe Board of Directors member, left our board to become a temporary employee and help me finish out the season on our educational farm, supervising our GROWS participants. For two months I got to work with Edgar all day. We had some very heavy discussions about how to help improve at least some of the issues plaguing our young adults, but we also had a lot of laughs. Edgar was up for any task, no matter how dirty or physically taxing, while mentoring our GROWS team as the program came to an end for 2022. He referred to himself as a ‘city boy who took a shine to growing food’ and was like a sponge, soaking up as much information as he could. He was sure that urban ag was an important component of improving life in the city. As soon as he left our employ and moved on to Foodlink, Edgar transitioned back to serving on our Board of Directors, with the same passion and energy that he put into everything he did.

Laurencé Walker –

I first met Edgar at the CCE Monroe annual meeting in 2021. We discussed ways to include nutrition classes and resources for the Cameron Ministries community. During the planning process Edgar was so excited to have us be a part of their workshops. He always brought fun and new exciting ideas to the table. When our nutrition classes finally started, Edgar showed up to every single class and helped in any way he could. Whether it be setting up tables, promoting flyers, or assisting in PowerPoints. He was always more than willing to jump in and help with whatever had to be done. That is something I will always remember about Edgar. How caring, compassionate, selfless, and generous of a person he was to everyone. He would always uplift and encourage those around him. I will miss his kind gentle presence and energetic radiant personality. It was a blessing to know Edgar and he will be dearly missed. 

Last updated April 19, 2023