2024 Donation Drop Off Locations

by Karen Fitzpatrick in Donations

Season 9 will run from Sunday, June 9 through Saturday, October 12

Volunteer Drivers Needed
blue sedanVolunteer drivers are always needed to help us keep our donations arriving to our recipients. If you do not have the time to do a weekly location, please consider being a shared or back up driver for a specific location, or a substitute driver for vacations. Just an hour or two each week, every other week, or on an as needed basis would help tremendously.
If you would like to become a volunteer driver, please contact us at info@plantarowlv.org.

tomatoes on a vinePlease remember when donating tomatoes to pick them before they are fully ripe. Tomatoes continue to ripen after they are picked. Also if rain is expected, pick tomatoes that have begun to ripen so that they do not crack or split. If possible place them in card board boxes. Cereal or granola boxes can be taped at the ends, and the center cut out for light weight tomatoes. Many people save the plastic or cardboard pint and quart containers from the grocery store to package their dontations. This helps keep them from bruising during transport.

Thank you for all you do to help provide fresh produce and herbs to families in need.

vegetables being weighed for donationPlease note: Plant a Row Lehigh Valley volunteers pick up and transport donations from our official donation locations. Prior to delivering the donations, our volunteer drivers weigh the donations. If you bring a donation to one of our recipient locations, please send us an email with the date of donation, the recipient’s name, and the amount of produce in pounds that you donated. If you bring donations to a recipient that is not listed below, we can add them to our recipient list.

Donation Locations are listed in alphabetical order by county. Recipient locations that accept direct donations are listed separately after the donation locations.

Lehigh County

Emmaus Community Garden
Robert Rodale Way, Emmaus, PA 18049
Benefits: Bethel Bible Fellowship Church Food Bank, Casa Guadalupe in Allentown and Zionsville Lutheran Church Food Bank
Sunday evening after 6:30 PM until 10:00 AM Monday morning

Emmaus Public Library
11 E Main Street, Emmaus, PA 18049
Benefits: Bethel Bible Fellowship Church Food Bank, Casa Guadalupe in Allentown and Zionsville Lutheran Church Food Bank
Sunday evening after 6:30 PM until 10:00 AM Monday morning

Jordan Lutheran Church operates year round
5103 Snowdrift Rd, Orefield, PA 18069
Benefits: Jordan Lutheran Food Pantry
Note: Cooler is located on the sidewalk underneath the awning at the double doors entrance on Snowdrift Road
Sundays prior to the first and third Mondays: 8:00 AM – 12:00 noon

Lehigh County Community Garden – Cedarbrook
Cedarbrook Road, South Whitehall, PA 18104
Benefits: Everlasting Life Ministries Food Pantry, Allentown
Note: Cedarbrook Road is off of Dorney Park Road. Enter the Cedarbrook Complex, stay to the right. The gardens are behind the Maintenance Building. The cooler chest is by the Information sign for the garden.
Thursdays before 5:00 PM

Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center
4220 Crackersport Road, Allentown, PA 18104
Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter
Thursdays: 8:00 AM 4:00 PM

Lower Macungie Library
3450 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA 18062
Benefits: Grace Lutheran Church, Macungie
Note: Cooler chest is inside the community center by the library entrance.
Tuesdays: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

New Tripoli
7724 Carpet Road, New Tripoli, PA 18066
Benefits: Lowhill Food Pantry at Christ’s Church and St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
Note: Place donations in the red truck at the end of the driveway.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Parkland Community Library
4422 Walbert Avenue Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104
Benefits: Everlasting Life Ministries, Allentown
Note: Cooler chest is located just inside the main library entrance.
Wednesday at 4:00 PM until closing, Thursday from 9 AM until 8:00 PM

St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy
Saint Ann’s Church
415 S. 6th Street, Emmaus, PA 18049
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries, Nehemiah Wall/Greater Shiloh Church (Bethlehem Campus), and Whitehall Food Pantry at St. Stephen’s Church
Saturdays: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

St. John’s Lutheran Church
1028 Church Street, Fogelsville, PA 18051
Benefits: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Food Pantry, Trexlertown
Mondays: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Southern Lehigh Public Library
3200 Preston Lane, Center Valley, 18034
Benefits: Allentown Rescue Mission
Note: Cooler chest is on bench outside of the library entrance.
Mondays: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Whitehall Public Library
3700 Mechanicsville Rd, Whitehall, PA 18052
Benefits: Whitehall Food Pantry at St. Stephen’s Church
Mondays: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Whitehall Coplay Hunger Initiative (WCHI)
Re/Max Unlimited Real Estate
1080 Schadt Avenue, Whitehall, PA 18052
Benefits: Whitehall Coplay Hunger Initiative; City Limits Assembly of God
Catasauqua Area Food Bank, and Whitehall Food Pantry at St. Stephen’s Church
Note: Please leave your donations inside the foyer on the right.
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Willow Lane Elementary School
6135 Sauerkraut Lane, Macungie, PA 18062
Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter
Thursdays: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Northampton County

Bethlehem Area Public Library – Main
11 W. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Benefits: Cay Galgon Life House, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and The Nehemiah Wall/Greater Shiloh Church (Bethlehem Campus)
Note: Cooler is inside the library across from the circulation desk
Monday – Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday & Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Diefenderfer Tract Community Garden
6300 Hanoverville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Benefits: City Limits Assembly of God Foodbank
Wednesday before 1:00 PM

Hanover Township Community Center
3660 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Benefits: City Limits Assembly of God Foodbank
Note: Cooler is on the bench inside the front entrance
Tuesday afternoon from 3:00 PM until closing, and Wednesday from 7 AM – 1:00 PM

Louise W. Moore Park Community Garden
Louise Moore Park, Easton, PA 18045
Benefits: Safe Harbor and Greater Shiloh Church (Easton Campus)
Fridays before 10:00 AM

St. Luke’s Anderson Community Garden
1872 St Luke’s Boulevard, Easton, PA 18045
Benefits: Safe Harbor and Greater Shiloh Church (Easton Campus)
Note: The community garden is behind the hospital complex.
Thursday mornings before 10:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran Church
323 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18020
Note: Bin is by the benches near the parking lot door.
Benefits: Nazareth Area Food Bank
Sundays: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Contributing Locations

Allentown West Rotary Club
Leigh County Community Garden and raised beds at Parkland Community Library
Benefits: Jordan Lutheran Food Pantry, Christ Church Food Pantry at Lowhill, Everlasting Life Ministries, Allentown

Huser’s Garden
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries

Miller’s Garden Plot
Benefits: Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship

The Lutheran Home at Topton
Benefits: Brandywine Food Pantry at St. Peter’s UCC, Topton

Willow Haven Farm
New Tripoli
Benefits: Casa Jeanette Christian Ministries and Eastside Food Pantry at Community Bike Works

Recipient Information for Direct Donation

Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bankoperates year round
417 N, 14th Street, Allentown, PA 18102
(610) 821-1332
Call when you arrive and someone will come out to assist you.
Benefits: Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank
Monday Wednesday & Friday mornings, 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Thursdays evenings: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Allentown Rescue Mission operates year round
355 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Note: Park in front of the mission. There is a sign with the phone number to call to drop off donations. Someone will come out to take your donations.
Benefits: Allentown Rescue Mission
Donations are accepted at anytime.

Betty Lou’s Pantryoperates year round
333 Oxford Street, Coopersburg, PA 18036
Benefits: Betty Lou’s Pantry
Second and Fourth Saturdays: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Everlasting Life Ministries operates year round
New Bethany E.C. Church
224 North Sixth Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Note: Ring the 2nd doorbell and someone will come out to take your donations.
Benefits: Everlasting Life Ministries
Monday Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

New Bethany Ministries – Food Pantryoperates year round
380 Shawnee Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Note: Shawnee is a one way street; enter by turning into the CVS parking lot from Broadway, turn left onto Shawnee (the alley behind CVS). In one block Shawnee bends to the left, park here, on the right. Signs will say “Cathedral parking.” You will not be towed. Staff will be at the food pantry (blue building) to help you unload.
Benefits: New Bethany Ministries
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Read more

2022 Press Releases for Season 7 Launch

by Karen Fitzpatrick in Uncategorized

Saucon Source

The Morning Call

https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-ent-plant-a-row-in-the-lehigh-valley-20220608-xlqvnj5vxffljbdj53znb7nqce-story.html

Plant A Row returns: Use your garden excess to help others

By Jennifer Sheehan

The Morning Call

With the growing season in full swing in the Lehigh Valley, it’s also time for another gardening cause to get underway.

Plant a Row — a program where home gardeners can donate some of their bounty to others — is underway. It’s the seventh season for the program.

Here’s how it works: Local gardeners can donate what they grow to benefit local food banks. They can either designate a row of their garden for donations or simply donate overflow. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can still help the program by donating what you buy from the supermarket, get from your CSA or at the farmers market and dropping it off at one of the Plant a Row collection sites. Volunteers pick up and transport the donations received to area food pantries, meal centers, soup kitchens and shelters.

This year the program has 326 registered gardens, 21 drop-off locations and 25 recipient organizations.

What you can’t eat or use will help others in the Valley. Feeding America defines food insecurity as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time. Lehigh County has an overall food-insecurity rate of 10%; Northampton County’s is 8.6%.

Plant a Row — a program where home gardeners can donate some of their bounty to others — will get underway on June 12. It’s the seventh season for the program. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call )

Donation sites and hours

Lehigh County

Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank – operates year-round, 417 N, 14th St., Allentown, PA 18102, (610) 821-1332. Call when you arrive and someone will come out to assist you. Benefits: Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank; 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday; 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

Allentown Rescue Mission – operates year-round, 355 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA 18101; Donations are accepted at any time. Park in front of the mission. There is a sign with the phone number to call to drop off donations. Someone will come out to take your donations. Benefits: Allentown Rescue Mission

Betty Lou’s Pantry – operates year-round; 333 Oxford St., Coopersburg, PA 18036; Benefits: Betty Lou’s Pantry; 8 to 8:30 second and fourth Saturdays

Emmaus Community Garden, Robert Rodale Way, Emmaus, PA 18049; Benefits: Bethel Bible Fellowship Church Food Bank, Casa Guadalupe in Allentown and Zionsville Lutheran Church Food Bank; after 6:30 p.m, Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday.

Emmaus Public Library, 11 E. Main St., Emmaus, PA 18049; Benefits: Bethel Bible Fellowship Church Food Bank, Casa Guadalupe in Allentown and Zionsville Lutheran Church Food Bank; after 6:30 p.m, Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday.

Jordan Lutheran Church (new location), 5103 Snowdrift Road, Orefield, PA 18069; Note: Cooler is on the sidewalk underneath the awning at the double doors entrance on Snowdrift Road; Benefits: Jordan Lutheran Food Pantry; Sundays prior to the first and third Mondays.

Lehigh County Community Garden – Cedarbrook – backup driver needed; Cedarbrook Road, South Whitehall, PA 18104; Note: Cedarbrook Road is off of Dorney Park Road. Enter the Cedarbrook Complex, stay to the right. The gardens are behind the Maintenance Building. Benefits: Everlasting Life Ministries Food Pantry, Allentown; before 5 p.m. Thursdays

Lehigh Community Garden – Jordan Creek Parkway – backup driver needed; Lehnert Road, Whitehall, PA 18052; Note: Scherersville Road becomes Lehnert Road; Benefits: Everlasting Life Ministries Food Pantry, Allentown; before 5 p.m. Thursdays

Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Center, 4220 Crackersport Road, Allentown, PA 18104; Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays

New Tripoli, 7724 Carpet Road, New Tripoli, PA 18066; Note: Place donations in the red truck at the end of the driveway. Benefits: Lowhill Food Pantry at Christ’s Church and St. Peter’s United Methodist Church; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays

St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Garden of Mercy – backup driver needed; Church of St. Ann, 415 S. 6th St., Emmaus, PA 18049; Benefits: New Bethany Ministries, Greater Shiloh Church Food Pantry (Bethlehem Campus), and Whitehall Food Pantry at St. Stephen’s Church; 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1028 Church St., Fogelsville, PA 18051; Benefits: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Food Pantry, Trexlertown; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays

Southern Lehigh Public Library, 3200 Preston Lane, Center Valley, 18034; Benefits: Allentown Rescue Mission; 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays

Willow Lane Elementary School, 6135 Sauerkraut Lane, Macungie, PA 18062; Benefits: Sixth Street Shelter; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays

Northampton County

Bethlehem Area Public Library – Coolidge Branch (new location) – backup driver needed; 2740 Fifth St., Bethlehem, PA 18020; Note: Cooler is on the front porch Benefits: Cay Galgon Life Center, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and the Nehemiah Wall; 11 a,m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays

Bethlehem Area Public Library – Main – backup driver needed, 11 W. Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018; Benefits: Cay Galgon Life Center, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and the Nehemiah Wall; Note: Cooler is inside the library across from the circulation desk, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays

Diefenderfer Community Garden – backup driver needed; 6300 Hanoverville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017; Benefits: Allentown Rescue Mission; before 1 p.m. Wednesdays

Hanover Township Community Center (new location)– backup driver needed; 3660 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017; Benefits: Allentown Rescue Mission; Note: Cooler is on the bench inside front entrance; from 3 p.m. Tuesday unitl 1 p.m. Wednesday

Louise W. Moore Park (pick-up day has changed)– backup driver needed; Louise Moore Park, Easton, PA 18045; Benefits: Safe Harbor and Greater Shiloh Church (Easton Campus); before 10 a.m. Fridays

New Bethany Ministries – Food Pantry – operates year-round; 380 Shawnee St., Bethlehem, PA 18015; Note: Shawnee is one way; enter by turning into the CVS parking lot from Broadway, turn left onto Shawnee (the alley behind CVS). In one block Shawnee bends to the left, park here, on the right. Signs will say “Cathedral parking.” You will not be towed. Staff will be at the food pantry (blue building) to help you unload. Benefits: New Bethany Ministries; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Pot This, LLC (new location); 1124 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018; Note: Place donations in cooler on front porch. Benefits: Cay Galgon Life Center, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and the Nehemiah Wall; 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday.

St. Luke’s Anderson Community Garden, 1872 St Luke’s Boulevard, Easton, PA 18045; Note: The community garden is behind the hospital complex. Benefits: Safe Harbor and Greater Shiloh Church (Easton Campus); before 10 a.m. Thursdays

Trinity Lutheran Church, 323 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18020; Note: Bin is by the benches near the parking lot door. Benefits: Nazareth Area Food Bank; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays

Non-drop off locations

These are sites that are contributing to the program but are not places that will accept donations:

Lehigh University Community Garden – backup driver needed; Goodman Campus; Benefits: Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley;

The Lutheran Home at Topton; Benefits: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Food Pantry, Trexlertown;

Willow Haven Farm – shared driver/backup driver needed, New Tripoli; Benefits: Grace Lutheran Church Food Cupboard, Macungie and The Bread Ministry of Emmaus.

Register your garden, volunteer and more

The program is especially in need of volunteer drivers. Email: info@plantarowlv.org if you are interested.

To register your garden for Plant a Row: https://plantarowlv.org/

Read more

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 more

Media 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 more

2018 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

Read more

Media Coverage: Peak TV

by Joseph Marlin in Media

Read more

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

Read more

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.

Read more

Media Coverage: Express Times

by Joseph Marlin in Media

The Express Times and Lehigh Valley Live profiled our efforts! Read it here.

Read more

Media Coverage: Saucon Source

by Joseph Marlin in Media

Saucon Source profiled our efforts! Read it here.

Read more