Viewing posts from: November 2016

2017 Donation Dropoff Locations

by Joseph Marlin in Donations

The 2017 season has now concluded. Thank you!

Here are the 2017 Plant a Row Lehigh Valley dropoff locations! You can register your garden here.

Please support the businesses that have donated their store space to assist in our efforts!

Emmaus Community GardenNow closed for the season –  Robert Rodale Way, Emmaus, PA 18049
Notes: Take the road into composting site, then drive down to the community garden.
Benefits: Bethel Bible Fellowship Food Pantry, Emmaus
Operates: Mondays, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, (Last pickup 1:00PM) June 19 – October 9

Bogie Community Garden #10Now closed for the season –  Lower Macungie Road and Bogie Ave, Macungie, PA 18062
Notes: Plot #10 has a sign that says “Garden of Mercy”. Community garden is here.
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem
Operates: Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, (Last pickup 12:00PM) June 17 – October 14

Lehigh Valley Home & GardenNow closed for the season –  4220 Crackersport Rd, Allentown, PA 18104
Notes: Bin is inside the main building, across from the checkout.
Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter, Allentown
Operates: Thursdays, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM, (Last pickup 5:30PM) June 22 – October 12

Allentown WeekendsNow closed for the season – 1305 N Cedar Crest Blvd, Allentown, PA 18104
Notes: House at the northeast corner of Cedar Crest and Fairmont. Dropoff bin is on the side porch on the Fairmont Street side – easy parking along Fairmont.
Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter, Allentown
Operates: Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, (Last pickup 7:00PM) June 17 – September 30

Beleno Spiritual Healing CenterNow closed for the season –  1019 W Broad, Bethlehem, PA
Notes: Bin is located on the front porch, right at the main entrance.
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem
Operates: Tuesdays, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM, (Last pickup 5:30PM) June 20 – October 10

New Bethany Ministries Now closed for the season –  341 W 4th St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Notes: Enter the Hospitality Center at 331 West Fourth St. Do not park in the lot across the street from the Hospitality Center, as the owners of that lot often tow vehicles. Indicate to the check-in person that you are there to drop off “Plant A Row Lehigh Valley” donations. You can record your donations on the record sheet on the wall, placed under a “Plant a Row” sign.
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem
Operates: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, June 19 – October 13

Louise W Moore ParkNow closed for the season –  Louise Moore Park, Easton, PA 18045
Notes: Bin is located under the magnolia tree by plots 42 and 51
Benefits: Nazareth Area Food Bank, Nazareth
Operates: Tuesdays, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM, (Last pickup 4:30PM) June 20 – October 10

St Luke’s Anderson Now closed for the season –  1872 St Luke’s Blvd, Easton, PA 18045
Notes: The community garden is behind the Medical Office building. The donation dropoff baskets are right inside the fence gate, next to the shed.
Benefits: Nazareth Area Food Bank, Nazareth
Operates: Tuesdays, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, (Last pickup 4:00PM) June 20 – October 10

Easton – Now closed for the season –  521 Seitz St. Easton PA, 18042
Notes: The dropoff bin is on the front porch.
Benefits: Easton Area Neighborhood Center, St. Paul’s Food Pantry
Operates: Tuesdays, 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM, Wednesdays, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM, June 20 – October 11

Neighbors Garden Center Now closed for the season –  38 Main St, Hellertown, PA 18055
Notes: Bin is by checkout counter.
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries, Bethlehem
Operates: Mondays, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, (Last pickup 5:00PM)  June 19 – October 9

Betty Lou’s PantryNow closed for the season –  333 Oxford St, Coopersburg, PA 18036
Notes: Take produce into pantry, and mention that you’re from Plant a Row LV.
Benefits: Betty Lou’s Pantry
Operates: Second and Fourth Saturdays (except special occasions – see website) – 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM, June 24 – October 14

Southern Lehigh LibraryNow closed for the season –  3200 Preston Lane, Center Valley, 18034
Notes: Bring donations to circulation desk.
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries
Operates: Mondays – 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Tuesdays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM July 24 – October 10

New Tripoli Dropoff LocationNow closed for the season –  7373 Gun Club Rd, New Tripoli, PA 18066
Notes: Drop off produce in bed of pickup truck.
Benefits: Northern Lehigh Food Bank, Slatington
Operates: Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, (Last pickup 7:00PM) June 21 – October 11

Diefenderfer Community GardenNow closed for the season –  6300 Hanoverville Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Notes: Bin is located at the garden sign-post between garden plots 1 & 2.
Benefits: Second Harvest Food Bank
Operates: Wednesdays, 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM, (Last pickup 2:00PM) June 21 – October 11

Question? Problems? Contact info@plantarowlv.org

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2016 Post-Season Press Release

by Joseph Marlin in Press Release

Plant a Row Lehigh Valley has concluded its first annual campaign to help home gardeners donate fruits, vegetables, and herbs to food-insecure families and individuals in Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, and surrounding areas.

The latest data available from Second Harvest Food Bank shows that some 60,000 people in the Valley receive food assistance annually. Plant a Row Lehigh Valley asked home gardeners to set aside one row of their gardens to donate to these food-insecure individuals and families, and it also accepted any overflow produce. The program created nine donation collection points at stores, parks, and churches, where participants could drop off fruits and vegetables. Each week, volunteers with the program transported donated produce from the collection points to food pantries and meal centers around the Valley.

The first donations were accepted on June 12th, 2016, and by the end of the growing season, backyard gardeners had donated 3029 pounds of fresh produce. This was split between five different food assistance programs. The donations consisted of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including over 275 pounds of tomatoes, 215 pounds of squash, and 50 pounds of apples. In total, the donations were enough for families to provide a serving of nutritious fresh produce for over 12,100 meals.

The program was warmly received by food security leaders in the Lehigh Valley. “This is an idea that could be transformational to the Lehigh Valley and end food insecurity, while making us healthier and happier and more connected to our neighbors,” said Joyce Marin, Executive Director of RenewLV. “I was overwhelmed by the generosity of gardeners throughout the Lehigh Valley,” said Joseph Marlin, coordinator for Plant a Row Lehigh Valley, “and I was continually humbled by the dedication of our volunteers, who transported all that produce every week for eighteen weeks.”

Plant a Row Lehigh Valley is the local campaign of the national Plant a Row program, sponsored by Garden Writers Association. Since 1995, over 20 million pounds of produce providing over 80 million meals have been donated by American gardeners through this program.

Anyone interested in participating or volunteering in the program next year can register right here, or email info@plantarowlv.org.

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