From schools to churches to business offices, it seems as if everywhere you looked during the holiday season, there was someone organizing a food drive. Local food pantry workers said they were more than grateful for all of the generous donations and extra volunteers over the holidays.
Unfortunately, the need extends far beyond Dec. 25.
Linda Young, of Brighton, recognized that need and decided to do something about it. In 2008, Young introduced Plant a Row for the Hungry to the Brighton area. The Garden Writers Association started the program in 1995 to encourage home gardeners to plant some extra produce to donate to local food pantries.
“It didn’t take long for the ideas to expand, so I came up with Brighton Shares the Harvest as a volunteer-driven community model with a mission to get more fresh produce on more tables in the Brighton area,” Young said. “It’s not an agency or even an organization. It’s just me, a Web site, a handful of volunteers, and a heart full of hope and optimism.”
In addition to providing fresh produce to local food pantries, part of Young’s mission is to let the community know that there is still a need for donations at the food pantries long after Christmas.
“After the holidays, donations to our food banks drop off. But the need continues year-round,” she said.
Susanne Nation, director of His Hands Food Cupboard, and Nelson Ferguson, advisor of St. Augustine’s Food Pantry, said Young and her group have assisted greatly in increasing awareness of the local, year-round need. Most importantly, Young and her helpers are doing something about that need.
“Over the past six months, we have been blessed with the generous donations and support from individuals and businesses in the Brighton area,” Ferguson said. “There is a good understanding that we have a significant need to feed the many needy families, many of which include small children as well as the elderly. We have been very pleased with the large number of people who have provided assistance. Brighton Shares the Harvest can help fill some of the gaps in our ability to provide wholesome foods throughout the year to these needy families.”
“Many of us do not realize that we are just one pay check away from food insecurity,” Nation said. “In the past year, many Americans have come to realize how blessed we are. You don’t necessarily know by looking if your neighbor is in a dilemma of whether to pay the gas bill or buy groceries. Take the opportunity to give to those less fortunate whenever you are able. Brighton Shares the Harvest is a great avenue for many of us to foster our abilities to provide fresh produce that will provide nutritious food for a family.”
Nation said His Hands has helped an average of 420 families a month for the past six months, totaling 1,500 individuals. Families are allowed to come to His Hands up to two times per month. Ferguson said for the past six months, St. Augustine’s has averaged 275 families per month, roughly 1,000 individuals. Normally, His Food Pantry provides food only once per month, although it may provide a smaller amount of emergency food and bread more frequently to a few families.
Nation said His Hands is typically most in need of food and donations in February and March each year. Ferguson said his food inventory is lowest during March and April, as well as September and October.
“At almost all other times during the year (other than the holidays), we are in need of additional food or financial donations,” Ferguson said. “During these times, our shelves become bare, or we must reduce the amount of food we are able to provide each family.”
Young is working on new projects for this spring and summer to help local food pantries. Some of the ideas include planting buckets with a tomato or a pepper plant so a senior or a food pantry client can grow fresh produce; asking the Colorado Master Gardeners of Adams County to provide seminars so people can learn how to grow vegetables in their home gardens. Other ideas being considered are, setting up fresh produce collections at local farm stands and markets; establishing community garden plots at the Brighton Boys & Girls Club; encouraging residents to grow some produce for their families; and working with the school district to explore opportunities to introduce more fresh produce into school lunches.
Another thought is to involve youngsters in growing some of their own produce at a school. Young would also like to hear from experienced gardeners who might be interested in mentoring new gardeners, including kids, to grow produce in community gardens to share with local food pantries.
Young hopes to continue to spread her message of putting efforts into activities that are sustainable or repeatable. In addition, she would like businesses and agencies, including churches and schools to contact her to set up food drive at various time throughout the year, rather than just around the holiday season.
“I would love to contact every business and nonprofit in the Brighton area and ask each of them to commit to one non-perishable food drive each year, and I will work with them to make sure they are spread throughout the year, so we provide a more steady stream of nonperishable food directly to our local food pantries,” she said.
Nation said her food pantry appreciates any type of donation, no matter how small. Food donations are always welcome. But at His Hands, they are able to make financial donations stretch much further with their ability to purchase food from clearing houses, such as Food Bank of the Rockies, she said. For every $1 donated, they can then issue five pounds of food.
“Each person can make a difference in their gifts of either food on monetary donations, regardless of the amount,” she said. “If everyone gave something, there wouldn’t be a need.”