Enlisting gardeners to help feed the hungry

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Abstract

Across the country and in Canada, volunteer gardeners are helping to feed the hungry by dedicating a row of their fresh garden produce to food banks and soup kitchens. The Garden Writers Association of America initiated the Plant A Row (PAR) for the Hungry campaign in 1995. The PAR website contains how-to information on starting a local campaign and access to free resources such as press kits, brochures, row markers, and workbooks.

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Issue

Community and personal gardens are an abundant resource of fresh garden produce for area food banks and soup kitchens. The Plant A Row for the Hungry (PAR) campaign connects local gardeners to local food banks and soup kitchens to help feed the hungry.

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Action

The Garden Writers Association (GWA) sponsors Plant A Row for the Hungry (PAR), a communications campaign that encourages garden communities to donate fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers to food banks and/or soup kitchens in need.

To start your own campaign, take the following steps.

    1. Enlist a Network

      2. Recruit volunteers to help launch the campaign. Identify people for the following roles: local coordinator, food distribution agency partner, publicist, events and collection organizer.

    2. Plan your Campaign

      3. When planting season opens:

      • Create an attention-getting launch for the campaign and invite all gardeners.
      • Plant lots of rows to assure a harvest.
      • Publicize the need for produce every way you can in newspapers and on radio and TV.

      As harvest season advances:

      • Organize gleaning opportunities.
      • Celebrate the harvest and publicize it.
      • Announce a final harvest date.

    3. Publicize Your Campaign

      • Publicize a kick-off date and site for the kick-off.
      • Enlist media contacts and keep them informed all season long.
      • Offer GWA's PAR video and PSA (found on the website) to local television stations.
      • Most importantly, keep the mood up!

    4. Celebrate the Harvest

      5. Wrap up the campaign at the cut-off date with a harvest party during which time be sure to:

      • Say thanks to the network members, business sponsors, contributors, and media.
      • Invite a celebrity to make a statement on how local donations have boosted the national Plant A Row totals for the year.
      • Congratulate your gardeners.
      • Announce next year's Plant A Row campaign.

      The PAR website provides in-depth advice on how to launch a campaign including publicity ideas and partnership possibilities. PAR also can make supplies available to help publicize the campaign including brochures, row markers, press kits, and handbooks.

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      Context

      PAR began in Anchorage, Alaska, in the garden column of Jeff Lowenfels, former Garden Writers Association president, when he asked gardeners to plant a row of vegetables for Bean's Cafe, an anchorage soup kitchen.

      In 2001, there were 46 active Plant A Row for the Hungry campaigns across the United States and in Canada.

      In 2005,  more than 1.5 million pounds of produce were donated generating meals for over 5.5 million needy recipients.

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      Outcome

      In the first five years, Plant A Row for the Hungry campaigns raised a million pounds of fresh garden produce for food banks and soup kitchens. In its sixth year, volunteers recorded almost a million more — over 870,000 pounds — of fresh food donated to local food cupboards.

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      Posted On

      February 22, 2001

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      For More Information

      Jacqui Heriteau
      The Garden Writers Association Foundation, Plant a Row for the Hungry
      National Program Director
      10210 Leatherleaf Court
      Manassas, VA 20111
      Toll-free: 1-877-GWAA-PAR (492-

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      Source Documents

      Plant A Row for the Hungry

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