Programs:

Plant A Row for the Hungry

The soup kitchens, food pantries, and assistance programs that Connecticut Food Bank serves need fresh, nutritious produce. Connecticut Food Bank’s Plant A Row for the Hungry project encourages anyone with a plot of land set aside for a garden to dedicate a row of fruit or vegetables to help feed people in need. The Plant A Row project also works with local farmers’ markets, farms, and orchards to collect unsold, wholesome produce for distribution to local hunger relief efforts.

About Plant A Row

In 2006, local resident and avid gardener Marilyn Wilkes launched Plant A Row in Connecticut. The national program began in Alaska in the mid-1990s, growing out of a column written by a former president of the Garden Writers Association of America. The column encouraged local gardeners to add an extra row of vegetables to benefit a local soup kitchen. Wilkes’ effort in Connecticut has provided fresh produce for people who might otherwise go without.

The success of Plant A Row hinges on community involvement. Home gardeners, farmers, schools, places of worship, youth and community organizations, and area businesses can help make a difference for their neighbors in need by adding a row of seed beds or donating their surplus to Connecticut Food Bank and other local hunger relief organizations.

Farms and orchards can also plant an extra row to benefit the 280,000 Connecticut residents at risk of hunger. Because of the amount of food they grow, farmers and growers can make a big difference with just one row of fruit trees or vegetable plants aiding in the fight against hunger. If you are a flower or herb gardener, we also welcome you to donate to Plant A Row.

What to Plant and Donate

How to Donate

To donate to Plant A Row produce directly to a hunger assistance organization please click to download a Plant A Row brochure which lists all member programs by town where you can personally deliver your produce. If you would like a hard copy of the brochure, please contact Laura Falanga at (203) 469-5000, ext. 331 or lfalanga@ctfoodbank.org.

If you donate directly to a program, please let Connecticut Food Bank know, so that we can keep an account of all Plant A Row donations.

To deliver your produce to Connecticut Food Bank’s warehouses in East Haven, Fairfield, or Waterbury, please contact us at (203) 469-5000 for our hours of availability. When you bring it in, please clearly note that your donation is part of Plant A Row. Your donation will be weighed and a receipt will be provided on request, since your donation is tax-deductible. Please contact a tax professional for details.

If you have a larger donation, please contact Marilyn Wilkes, Plant A Row Coordinator at (203) 937-6939 or marilyn.wilkes@yale.edu.