ABOUT US

Turning Interest Into Action

While I have always been passionate about fighting hunger in our communities, due to Covid-19, now more than ever, people are in need of food. Unfortunately, this need is complicated even further by the fact that, during these unusual times, food banks are struggling to find money, food, and volunteers.
We noticed this problem in our own community and, started Farming it Forward, an organization to bridge the gap between local farmers, food workers, food banks, and community members. After seeing how the recent pandemic and subsequent market downturn adversely affected both food workers and food bank supplies, we came up with a plan to put local farmers and food pickers back to work while at the same time helping to replenish the fast-depleting food bank supply shelves.
To do this, we partnered with a local farm who graciously agreed to continue to pay their workers to pick vegetables that would have otherwise gone unharvested, and send the vegetables to us in 10-pound boxes. We then sold these vegetables in a contact-free environment to community members who were willing to support our cause with a minimum donation of $20 per box, the proceeds from which all went to the local Food Bank. Customers pick up the veggies at a specific location and time window. Wearing masks and gloves, we place the boxes in the trunks of their cars and away they go. Since March, Farming it Forward has raised over $68,000 worth of food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, which equates to countless meals for hungry families who otherwise would have had to go without food.
Farming it Forward is a win-win-win! Low wage farm workers keep their jobs, hungry families get to eat, and community members receive fresh veggies without having to enter a store, all while supporting a great cause! If you can see an opportunity for Farming it Forward to help support your organization and community, we encourage you to get the program started in your area.