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 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 more