Help fight hunger by growing fresh produce for a local emergency meal-site or food pantry. Local hunger-relief agencies are always in need of fresh fruits and vegetables. Plant a Row for the Hungry is a campaign of the Garden Writers Association, encouraging gardeners everywhere to grow extra produce for hunger-relief agencies.
Getting started
Fruits and vegetables are easy to grow in our Pacific Northwest climate. If you've never gardened before, consider attending one of Oregon Food Bank's free gardening workshops. Tomatoes, green beans, garlic, hot peppers, cucumbers and zucchini are all very easy to grow and don't require much space. Simply set aside a row in your garden to grow food to donate. Plant and tend your row and deliver the food to an agency in your neighborhood once a week.
Most wanted produce
Food pantries and soup kitchens need produce that stores and transports well. Refrigerated space is often limited, so foods that don't require refrigeration are always wanted. Here are some recommendations:
- Tomatoes (pick while slightly under-ripe)
- Green beans
- Winter squash (acorn or butternut)
- Garlic
- Hot peppers
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Collard greens
- Onions
Donation sites
Contact Eric Sopkin at 503-282-0555, Ext. 260, or esopkin@oregonfoodbank.org to find a local hunger-relief agency near you. |
