Grow a Row!
A campaign to help feed neighbors in need
Many are aware of the growing number of families who are in need of daily food. Demand is spiking, and food banks and other organizations are scrambling to respond. (Photo Credit, right: New York Times, May 26, 2020)
In our region, Feeding Westchester has seen the need more than double from a year ago, distributing nearly 5 million pounds of food in Spring 2020.
With a population of 1 million, the number of people living with food insecurity in Westchester County has increased from approximately 200,000 before the pandemic to more than 500,000 by May 2020. (Source: ABC EyeWitness News )
Organizations are working hard to get food to seniors who are isolating at home, children who rely on schools for meals, and those who have lost jobs.
At the same time, many in Westchester are planting home gardens, whether in yards, containers, or on windowsills.
How Can you Help, You Ask?
Grow A Row for neighbors in need, and donate the excess produce:
Hilltop Hanover farm, the Pleasantville Community Garden, and the Westchester County Climate Crisis Task Force Community Resilience team are working to promote the "Grow a Row" campaign, which encourages home gardeners to harvest a portion of their garden for donation to neighbors in need.
The Pleasantville Community Garden accepts fruits and vegetables harvested from home gardens and distributes them to partner organizations to meet the urgent needs of food insecure neighbors. People are encouraged to email info@pvillegarden.org for more information about drop off or contact-free home pickup.
Hilltop Hanover farm is also accepting donations through their own 'Grow A Row' program to help excess produce reach families in need. Sign up here to learn more, join the program, or schedule produce drop-off days to donate excess harvest.
Don't yet have a garden? You can start with Create A Victory Garden , a resource with instructions, handy links, and even contact information if you have questions.
As we have already seen in New York: together, we make a difference.
