Winnemucca, NV—The warming weather has brought eager gardeners out of their window boxes and into their plots. The smell of freshly cut grass wafts on warm breezes, irises are popping open all over the place, and the community garden is abuzz every weekend; it’s finally time to get those summer crops in the ground. And with a new season, comes the renewal of an old pledge.
Each year, thousands of gardeners throughout the nation pledge to fight hunger through the Plant A Row for the Hungry Campaign (PAR). This year, ScottsMiracle-Gro will donate 1 million pounds of produce. They have challenged Americans to sign their online pledge at grogood.com and match that donation. Last year our local campaign, sponsored by the Winnemucca Community Garden, raised over 400 pounds of fresh produce for donation to the Food Bank. That’s 400 pounds of the best of everything from potatoes to peaches, all grown local, fresh, and given directly to those who needed it most.
It surprises most Americans to discover that many of their neighbors live with hunger or malnutrition on a regular basis. According to a study conducted in November 2008 by the US Department of Agriculture, 11.1% of American households are at risk of hunger. This means they have lower quality diets or must seek assistance from emergency food organizations like food banks, pantries or soup kitchens. An additional 4.1 % of American households live with hunger on a daily basis. They frequently skip meals, eat less than they should, or go a full day without eating. We are fortunate to have a local Food Bank to alleviate hunger in Winnemucca, but it is our responsibility as a community to keep it stocked. Join the campaign today by planting a little extra in your garden or persuading other, perhaps greener thumbs to join in. Sign the online pledge at www.grogood.com to show your support for ending hunger in America.
For more information about the Plant A Row for the Hungry Campaign, visit winngarden.org and click on the Health, Hunger, & Nutrition Blog or call 623.2333. The Winnemucca Community Garden is a United Way of the Great Basin Partner.
