Donate Some of Your Fresh Garden Crops to a Food Kitchen

Most food kitchens rely on donations of food used to feed the hungry and homeless. The grocery items they usually receive is non-perishable, canned or frozen foods. In Delray Beach, Florida the gardeners from the Cason United Methodist church donates ten percent of their garden crop to a nearby food kitchen.

Fresh produce is perishable and costly. The National Gardening Association in South Burlington, Vermont has encouraged the area residents to grow gardens and offer the overflow of produce to the local food kitchens. Other communities and churches are beginning to take root at encouraging residents to share their garden crop with food kitchens, and shelters.

Some communities have gardens exclusively to support the food kitchens. Those attending the food kitchen are encouraged to help with the care and harvesting of the crop if they are in physical condition to do the work.

Many elderly are no longer able to do the work of caring for a garden, or may be on unable to buy fresh produce, so why not plant a few extra potatoes, green beans, peas, tomatoes, squash and lettuce to share with them?

My brother, who is in his seventies, plants a small garden every spring with little short rows of potatoes, tomatoes and beans. Almost daily when his crop is ready, he picks, cleans and delivers the vegetables and fruit to those in his neighborhood that are no longer able to work in a garden.

If you have space for a garden invite others to share in the cost and labor and donate a portion to a food kitchen in your area. In some areas it may be possible to donate garden space for people that live in condos, apartments or other areas without garden space.

Share what you have in abundance and you will be richly rewarded.