Programs:
Plant a Row for the Hungry
 Food pantries served by Connecticut Food Bank need fresh, nutritious produce. Connecticut Food Bank’s Plant a Row for the Hungry program encourages home and community gardeners and farmers to plant an extra row of produce specificaly to donate to local hunger-relief efforts. Every extra tomato, squash or watermelon can go a long way to help feed those who don't have enough to eat every day. The Plant a Row program also works with local farmers’ markets, farms, and orchards to collect unsold, wholesome produce for distribution to local food-assistance programs.
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 1995, 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 organization that served people in need. The 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 seedbeds or donating their surplus to Connecticut Food Bank and local food pantries.
Farms and orchards can also plant an extra row to benefit the 390,000 Connecticut residents at risk of hunger. Because of the amount of food they grow, farmers and growers can make a big difference in the fight against hunger with just one row of fruit trees or vegetable plants. 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
Clean, fresh produce can be delivered to any of Connecticut Food Bank's warehouses in East Haven, Fairfield and Waterbury. Click here for directions to Connecticut Food Bank's warehouses and hours of operation.
When you bring your donation in, please clearly note it's for the Plant a Row program. Your donation will be weighed and a receipt will be provided upon request. Your donation may be tax-deductible. Please contact a tax professional for details.
You can donate directly to a hunger-assistance organization, please download a Plant a Row brochure [PDF, 411 kb] to find out how. If you would like a hard copy of the brochure, please contact Sade Heard at (203) 469-5000 ext. 332 or sheard@ctfoodbank.org. You could also visit Ample Harvest to find out where the nearest food pantry is that could accept your donation.
If you donate directly to a program, please let Connecticut Food Bank know, so we can keep an account of all Plant a Row donations.
If you have a larger donation, please contact Marilyn Wilkes, volunteer Plant a Row Coordinator, at (203) 415-4712 or marilyn.wilkes@yale.edu. |
