Capital Area Food Bank » Grow a row http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org Responding to Hunger in the Washington, DC Region Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:41:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Grow a Row, Grow Your Community http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2011/03/grow-a-row-grow-your-community/ http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2011/03/grow-a-row-grow-your-community/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:00:06 +0000 aliciacamden http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/?p=7025 Whether you’re a master gardener or a terrified newcomer to backyard gardening (like me), you can help the Capital Area Food Bank relieve hunger with your extra squash and tomatoes.

The Grow a Row program connects D.C., Virginia and Maryland gardeners with CAFB partner organizations in their neighborhoods, creating “produce partnerships” that bring more nutritious fruits and vegetables to underserved communities.

We’ll set you up with someone who’s doing some good in your community, someplace where you’ll hopefully get a chance to see the positive difference your donation makes.  Not only will you have someplace for that inevitable overabundance of one-thing-or-another, you’ll be a part of relationships that build stronger communities.

You’ll provide underserved communities with a resource they desperately need but have little access to.  You’ll enjoy the unique satisfaction of filling a need while enjoying a stress-reducing, money-saving, earth-friendly hobby.

Best of all, you’ll get this great sign for your garden!  For free!

You don’t need to quit your day job to grow food for the hungry. Whatever the size of your donation, we’ll find you a partner that will get your produce into the homes and onto the tables of your neighbors in need.

For more information, contact Alicia Camden at growarow@capitalareafoodbank.org

]]> http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2011/03/grow-a-row-grow-your-community/feed/ 2 Holy Camole! What Do I Do with All of This Zucchini? http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2010/08/holy-camole-what-do-i-do-with-all-of-this-zucchini/ http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2010/08/holy-camole-what-do-i-do-with-all-of-this-zucchini/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:38:41 +0000 Jody Tick http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/?p=4399 It’s that time of year when the bounty from the garden abounds! Now that you are eating zucchini three times a day and your neighbors are politely declining any more produce from you, we have the perfect solution to your problem of plethora…

Donate it to us!

At the Capital Area Food Bank we can take donations of fresh produce anytime between 8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Drive up, dash in, drop off, fill out a 2 minute donation form and you are off! There is no schedule or advanced notice required. It’s that easy!

Looking for something more sustained? We have a partnership program called Grow A Row that pairs your beautiful garden with a neighborhood non-profit feeding program. You donate directly to them through the end of the growing season.

Visit our Grow A Row webpage or email us for more information about donating fresh produce.

Happy Growing!

]]> http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2010/08/holy-camole-what-do-i-do-with-all-of-this-zucchini/feed/ 0 Rooted in Community, “Grow a Row” Sprouts Promise of New Connections http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2009/11/rooted-in-community-%e2%80%9cgrow-a-row%e2%80%9d-sprouts-promise-of-new-connections/ http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/2009/11/rooted-in-community-%e2%80%9cgrow-a-row%e2%80%9d-sprouts-promise-of-new-connections/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:37:13 +0000 Emily Osterhus /?p=1330 Sometimes a really good idea is born out of such simplicity; all it takes is a little spark. Here in the Harvest for Health department of the Capital Area Food Bank we concentrate on getting fresh produce to the people who need it. This year, a beautiful idea sprouted into a program new to the DC area where gardeners donate extra produce from their home gardens to local community organizations that provide food to those in need right down the street.

Harvest for Health had no intention of starting a new program this spring, but we were open to it when the need presented itself.  Actually, the need has always been there.  We know that we need to get more fresh produce to the people who most need it – that’s why our department exists.  But the opportunity became more apparent when home gardeners started calling us. “Where can we take our extra vegetables?” Within weeks Grow a Row was born!

grow a row pic Cheverly Gardens 01_reduced

Rather than ask gardeners to bring their produce to the Capital Area Food Bank warehouse, we connect them with one an organization in their local community. The best part of this “Grow a Row” program is what goes unmeasured.  We can measure the produce that is donated, but how can we measure the connections that are being made?  When we made a connection in Cheverly, Maryland our gardener said, “I didn’t even know this place existed!” The agency
staff responded, “now that you know about us, you can send people here who need help.”  Hopefully communities and neighborhoods will grow closer through this effort — people who are already doing good work can team up to make not only a nutritious meal for a person in need, but a lasting connection to strengthen the community.

Are you interested in learning more about Grow a Row, or how you might get involved for the 2010 growing season? Email us.

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