Plant a Row for the Hungry Program Aims to Reduce Local Food Insecurity
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
WICHITA – Plant a Row for the Hungry kicks off its 24th year in Sedgwick County this month, by asking all gardeners to plant a little extra this season and share the surplus with those in need throughout our community. With 10.9 percent of Sedgwick County residents facing food insecurity every day, this program offers a way for those who love to grow vegetables, fruits and herbs, to have an immediate effect on the problem of hunger by sharing their bounty with others. One plant at a time, one row at a time, your garden can help provide healthy, fresh, nutritious food for others.
The Plant a Row for the Hungry program is a cooperative effort between Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, ICT Food Rescue, and a network of participating businesses that collect produce dropped off at their locations. Donations are then redistributed to local residents who are food insecure, or don’t otherwise have access to fresh produce.
“The Plant a Row for the Hungry program is a great way for gardeners to give back to the community and help residents experiencing food insecurity” says Abbey Draut, Horticulture Food Crops Agent with K-State Research and Extension in Sedgwick County. In 2023 the program received 6,267 pounds of donated produce. This equates to 5,223 meals at a cost savings of $12,033. “The Plant a Row for the Hungry program significantly impacts those receiving donations” says Draut. “Donations are given to residents in need as fresh produce or processed into healthy meals, allowing our partner, ICT Food Rescue, to make donations reach more people. We invite everyone to consider planting an extra row in your garden this year or donating excess produce to this wonderful program.”
Beginning now through fall, donations will be collected from eleven conveniently located drop-off sites around the Wichita-metro area and delivered to those in need. Donations will be accepted at:
- Augusta Ace Home Center - 316 W. 7th Ave, Augusta
- Botanica, The Wichita Gardens - 701 Amidon St.
- Brady Nursery - 11200 W. Kellogg
- Hillside Nursery - 2200 S. Hillside
- Hillside Feed & Seed - 1805 S. Hillside
- Johnson’s Garden Center – East, 6225 E. Shadybrook
- Johnson’s Garden Center – West, 2707 W. 13th
- Mc’s Market - 1901 E. 21st N.
- Valley Feed & Seed - 1903 S. Meridian
- Woodard Mercantile – Andover, 1313 E. US-54
- Woodard Mercantile – Maize, 4160 N. Maize Rd.
Started as a public service program by the Garden Writers Association and the GWA Foundation in 1995, the local Plant a Row for the Hungry effort has distributed 807,000 pounds of fresh food since beginning locally in 2000.
Source
Abbey Draut
(316) 660-0142
abbeyd@ksu.edu