Whether you have a huge or a small garden, donating your garden produce to food banks is a great way to support your local food bank and make a difference in the lives of others. You can present the produce you’ve grown by rinsing, bagging, and donating to a food bank. Many food banks even provide donation receipts. Whether you want to donate lettuce, chard, beets, or spinach, donating your garden produce is a great way to give.
Plant, Grow, Share a Row
The idea of planting, growing, and sharing a row of garden produce to donate to a food bank has its roots in North America. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1986, Ron and Eunice O’Donovan donated surplus potatoes from their backyard garden to their local food bank. They also encouraged their friends and neighbors to donate produce as well. The result was a growing food supply for the local food bank. Since then, the Grow-A-Row initiative has helped grant more than 1.4 million pounds of fresh produce to the food bank.
Plant A Row is a gardening program that pairs volunteers with local food banks. Volunteers grow a row of garden produce to donate to food pantries. Participants can plant a row or multiple rows, whichever they prefer. The vegetables and fruits they grow depend on the time of year and seed availability.
This project is a great way to start your garden, and you’ll also be doing good for the community. Garden Writers Association members, volunteers, and other community gardeners donate more than 2 million pounds of fresh vegetables to the Denver Food Pantry annually. The organization is based on the tradition of sharing harvests.
This growing campaign is a great way to volunteer in your community and make a difference for the hungry. The program invites youth groups to plan, Plant, and harvest a row of garden produce to donate to local food pantries. During this time, they can also engage in educational programming. The groups will learn about vegetable gardening, nutrition, and the water cycle. They will also attend a special end-of-season celebration.
Another great way to get involved in this cause is to host a gleaning day in your area. Many community gardens partner with local food banks. They dedicate a plot to grow specific crops. You can also join the fun by partnering with neighbors or other community gardens. A program called Lettuce Link can teach you how to plan and implement a giving garden. The guide includes best practices and tips for donating your produce.
Donating your garden produce is an easy and satisfying way to give back to your community. After harvesting your crop, you can bag it and present it to the food bank. Some food banks will even give you a receipt to acknowledge your donation.
Lettuce Link
When you grow your lettuce and other garden produce, you can donate it to a local food bank. Food banks like the University District Food Bank serve over 2,000 people every week and are happy to receive any donations. These centers are staffed with volunteers and prefer family-sized portions of fresh produce. Contact the food bank in your area to donate and ask for specific instructions.
The first step is to find a food bank that accepts fresh garden produce. Donating produce to the food bank can be a rewarding and effective way to give back to your community. Whether you donate greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, or any other vegetable, research the food banks in your area to find out which ones are most in need of fresh produce.
Plant a Row for the Hungry
If you’re looking for an easy way to make a difference in the lives of those in need, consider growing a row of garden produce to donate to your local food bank. By sharing your gardening knowledge and skills, you’ll be helping those in need and building a healthier community.
The process is simple: you plant a row of garden produce and then harvest the harvest at the appropriate time. The food banks will often provide a receipt if you donate enough to produce. Some food banks will even pick up your crop for free. Please get in touch with the food bank in advance to find out when it’s most convenient for you.
The Plant, a Row for the Hungry program, was created by a former president of the Garden Writers Association of America (GWA). It encourages gardeners to plant an extra row of vegetables, which can be shared with the local food bank. The campaign has been active in Connecticut since 2006, but it relies on community involvement to be successful. Home gardeners can start their programs to help the needy by adding seedbeds. Farmers can also benefit local food pantries and neighborhood residents.
The program began as an idea to raise awareness about hunger in America. Jeff Lowenfels, a former president of the GardenComm organization, was one of the first to launch the Plant A Row program. After the program launched, he asked readers of his newspaper to donate some of their gardens produce to the local food bank. In the years that followed, the program grew into a national program. Today, more than 2 million pounds of produce are donated yearly. Each pound of garden produce is equivalent to 4 meals for someone in need.
The Food Bank of Delaware is a great place to donate your surplus produce. By sharing your extra produce, you’re helping thousands of people in Delaware who face food insecurity. The food bank works with commercial farmers to share their surplus with food-insecure residents.
Feeding America
If you have excess garden produce, you can donate it to Feeding America food banks. These organizations are the largest in the United States and deliver more than four billion meals annually. They do this through various means, such as food pantries, backpack programs, and SNAP outreach. Since food insecurity and health are closely linked, many healthcare providers screen patients for food insecurity and provide referrals to local food pantries.
