New Web site Connects Backyard Gardeners with
Food Pantries to Diminish Hunger
On Friday, AmpleHarvest.org announced its 1,000th food pantry partner in celebration of World Food Day. Since the organization’s inception merely 150 days ago, AmpleHarvest.org has helped reduce hunger for Americans in every state through a grassroots sign-up campaign.
Set up like a small retail store, Rosie’s Place Groceries in Boston became the 1,000th pantry when it joined the fast-growing food pantry network. Rosie’s provides food for the more than 700 households it serves each month in addition to holiday meal packages distributed in November and December.
AmpleHarvest.org Founder, Gary Oppenheimer, says we can combat hunger in the U.S., using smart, ‘green-living’ methods with existing resources. Through AmpleHarvest.org, millions of backyard gardeners can easily share their excess garden bounty with food pantries across America.
Most pantries are not listed in the Yellow Pages and do not have an Internet presence. To address this, food pantries register their name, phone number, address and optional photograph along with the day(s) of the week produce is accepted from backyard gardeners on the AmpleHarvest.org Web site.
Demands on food pantries across the U.S., have increased dramatically in most areas leaving many food pantries pleading about their nearly bare shelves.
“Our goal is to register at least 500 additional food pantries before the end of the year particularly in the South during the winter months,” said Oppenheimer. “One in eight Americans, equal to the combined populations of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, now rely on pantries to help feed them.” The United Nations further estimates that more than one billion people around the world are undernourished.
“Growing gardens has no age limit. Young children to the elderly can make a difference and share excess produce,” commented Oppenheimer. “Recently, a 12-year-old in North Carolina identified a food pantry via AmpleHarvest.org for a county 4-H community service project resulting in 100 pounds of fresh and organic produce donated by local growers.”
About AmpleHarvest.org
AmpleHarvest.org is an outgrowth of Sustainable West Milford, a 503(c)(1) sustainability organization, which has received support from many groups including the USDA, Google, Inc., National Gardening Association, the Garden Writers of America, Rotary International, VFW, and numerous faith groups. The AmpleHarvest.org campaign is a grassroots effort to diminish hunger in America using existing resources without spending public or private monies, and has registered food pantries in all 50 states. For more information on the campaign visit www.AmpleHarvest.org or call 973-409-4093. You can also follow AmpleHarvest.org on twitter and on Facebook.
About World Food Day
World Food Day (WFD) is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness and year-round action to alleviate hunger. It is observed each October 16th in recognition of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
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