2018 Post-Season Press Release
by Joseph Marlin in Press Release
Hellertown, PA. (October 26, 2018) – Plant a Row Lehigh Valley has concluded its third 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 need food assistance every month. Plant a Row Lehigh Valley seeks to aid these food-insecure individuals and families by asking home gardeners to set aside one row of their gardens to donate. The program also accepted any overflow produce. Thanks to an increase of willing volunteers and interest, this year the program increased from fourteen to twenty-one donation collection points at stores, parks, and churches, where participants could drop off fruits and vegetables. Each week, volunteers transported donated produce from the collection points to food pantries and meal centers around the Valley.
The first donations were accepted on June 11th, 2018, and by the end of the growing season, 326 backyard gardeners had registered to participate and donated 6,009 pounds of fruits and vegetables, a stunning 20% increase over last year. These donations were split between fourteen different food assistance programs (up from five last year).
The program is a valuable asset for food assistance programs in the Valley. “We had such a great season with Plant A Row Lehigh Valley. Through our partnership we were able to serve 42 families totaling 157 people monthly. The generous donations of our Lehigh Valley gardeners make all the difference to the families we serve”, said Sandra Soliman, Director of Development and Communications at New Bethany Ministries. “It’s so inspiring to see backyard gardeners throughout the Lehigh Valley so excited and effective in helping their neighbors,” said Joseph Marlin, coordinator for Plant a Row Lehigh Valley.
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. Since its launch in 2016, Plant a Row Lehigh Valley gardeners have donated 14,041 pounds of produce to the hungry.
The program is already planning its next year and is looking for volunteers. Anyone interested in participating or volunteering in the program next year can register on the website – plantarowlv.org, or email info@plantarowlv.org.
Read moreMedia Coverage: WDIY Interview of Plant a Row LV volunteers
by Joseph Marlin in Media
If you missed our interview on WDIY, the Lehigh Valley’s public radio station, you can catch it online here!
Read more2018 Donation Dropoff Locations
by Joseph Marlin in Donations
All 2018 donation points are now closed for the season!
Nativity Lutheran
4004 Tilghman St, Allentown, PA 18104
Benefits: Ecumenical Food Bank
Saturday and Sunday, 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Betty Lou’s Pantry
333 Oxford St, Coopersburg, PA 18036
Benefits: Betty Lou’s Pantry
Second and Fourth Saturdays, 8:00AM – 9:00AM
Southern Lehigh Library
3200 Preston Lane, Center Valley, 18034
Benefits: Betty Lou’s Pantry / New Bethany Ministry
Mondays – 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
St. Luke’s Anderson
1872 St Luke’s Blvd, Easton, PA 18045
Benefits: Nazareth Area Food Bank
Tuesdays, before 12:00PM
Louise W Moore Park (Magnolia Tree)
Louise Moore Park, Easton, PA 18045
Benefits: Nazareth Area Food Bank
Tuesdays, before 1:00PM
Diefenderfer Community Garden
6300 Hanoverville Rd, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Benefits: Second Harvest Food Bank
Wednesdays, 7:00AM – 2:00PM
Bethlehem
818 West Union Blvd, Bethlehem, PA
Benefits: New Bethany Ministry
Tuesdays, 10:00AM – 5:30PM
Camel’s Hump Farm on the Johnston Estate
1311 Santee Mill Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Benefits: New Bethany Ministry
Sundays, 9:00AM – 8:00PM
Emmaus Community Garden
Robert Rodale Way, Emmaus, PA 18049
Benefits: Zionsville/Bethel
Mondays, 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Emmaus Public Library
11 E Main St, Emmaus, PA 18049
Benefits: Casa Guadalupe, Jefferson Elementary food pantry, Central Elementary Food Pantry
Mondays, Wednesdays, 8:00AM – 10:00AM
Allentown Weekends
1305 N Cedar Crest Blvd, Allentown, PA 18104
Benefits: New Bethany Ministry
Saturdays, 6:00AM – 9:00PM
Bogie #10 KoC
Lower Macungie Road – Bogie Ave, Macungie, PA 18062
Benefits: New Bethany Ministry
Saturdays, 8:00AM – 12:00PM
Neighbors Garden Center
38 Main St, Hellertown, PA 18055
Benefits: New Bethany Ministry
Thursdays, 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Lehigh Valley Home & Garden
4220 Crackersport Rd, Allentown, PA 18104
Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter
Thursdays, 8:00AM – 5:30PM
New Bethany Ministries
341 W 4th St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Benefits: New Bethany Ministry
Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 4:00PM
New Tripoli
7373 Gun Club Rd. New Tripoli PA. 18066
Benefits: Casa Guadalupe, Jefferson Elementary food pantry, Central Elementary Food Pantry
Tuesdays, 9:00AM – 7:00PM
St. John’s Lutheran Church
1028 Church St, Fogelsville, PA 18051
Benefits: St Paul’s United Church of Christ
Mondays, 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Trinity Lutheran Church
323 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18020
Benefits: Second Harvest Food Bank
Notes: Bin is by the benches near the parking lot door.
Sunday, 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Easton
521 Seitz St. Easton PA, 18042
Benefits: Easton area emergency food programs
Tuesdays, 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Forks
403 Paxinosa Road East, Easton PA 18040
Benefits: Easton area emergency food programs
Wednesdays, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Kellyn Foundation
336 Bushkill St, Tatamy, PA 18085
Benefits: Easton area emergency food programs
Wednesdays, 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Media Coverage: Peak TV
by Joseph Marlin in Media
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 Garden – Now 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 #10 – Now 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 & Garden – Now 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 Weekends – Now 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 Center – Now 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 Park – Now 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 Pantry – Now 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 Library – Now 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 Location – Now 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 Garden – Now 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
Read more2016 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.
Read moreMedia Coverage: Express Times
by Joseph Marlin in Media
The Express Times and Lehigh Valley Live profiled our efforts! Read it here.
Read moreMedia Coverage: Saucon Source
by Joseph Marlin in Media
Saucon Source profiled our efforts! Read it here.
Read moreMedia Coverage: Morning Call
by Joseph Marlin in Media
The Morning Call profiles Plant a Row. Read here!
Read more