Gardeners Make a Difference-Maine Harvest for Hunger Program!
If you are a home gardener or a commercial grower, consider planting an extra row of produce this year and donating the surplus to local soup kitchens and food pantries to help fight hunger through the Maine Harvest for Hunger (formerly Plant-A-Row for the Hungry) program.
Why Maine Harvest for Hunger is so important
- 10% of Maine households, representing 141,000 people, are “food insecure” according to the USDA.
- More than 40% of Maine children under the age of 12 show some evidence of hunger.
- 19,325 Maine children are hungry.
- Maine ranks 5th in the nation in prevalence of food insecurity.
Four Easy Steps
1) Enroll in the Maine Harvest for Hunger Program and receive free seeds.
2) Plant seeds and take care of them during the summer.
3) Harvest ripe produce, estimate the weight of the produce, and deliver to a local hunger organization.
4) Report your donation to the UMaine Extension office.
For more information, please visit the website http://umaine.edu/harvest-for-hunger/.
To enroll, please contact the University of Maine Cooperative Extension at 1-800-287-1542 or 207-255-3345, visit the office at 28 Center Street in Machias or email tara.a.wood@maine.edu. Gardeners who sign up can receive free vegetable seeds and a series of helpful educational newsletters. A food pantry list of nearby locations and times to drop off the fresh produce will be provided to you.