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By sowing more seeds, gardeners and farmers can reap hunger relief for thousands of northeast Indiana residents struggling to feed themselves and their families.
Leaders from Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana Inc., Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, and the Allen County Extension Office delivered the plea for donated vegetables of all types during a news conference Tuesday.
The leaders also asked farmers and 4-H Club auction sponsors to consider donating livestock to the food bank as opposed to selling them at market.
Rising gasoline and food prices have left more families facing hunger, according to Jane Avery, the food bank’s executive director.
The non-profit food bank distributes food through member agencies in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties.
The economic crunch has also led to reduced donations at the food bank, which serves 14,000 clients weekly.
“The working poor that we work with all the time, they’re just struggling,” Avery said.
That struggle can be worse for families with children because those children may not be getting meals at school during summer break, Avery said.
As gardens are planned, Avery hopes gardeners will include extra rows – or even acres – of food for Community Harvest.
A limited supply of free seeds might be available to gardeners who call the food bank.
By donating excess crops and garden bounty, Avery said, donors can help feed the hungry and possibly gain a tax deduction.
Debra Treesh, of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, said she planted extra sweet corn to donate. Although each acre of sweet corn produces about 17,000 ears of corn, the food will go quickly given the food bank’s need.
Treesh also said her group will help pay the processing fees for any livestock or large game animals donated to the food bank. Livestock can come either from individual farms or the auctions that follow county fairs and are processed by participating butchers.
Fair participants with livestock not participating in the auction should also consider donating their animals as opposed to taking them home, 4-H spokesman Mike Talbott said.
Talbott said some 4-H members know hungry people and the important role meat plays as a dietary staple.
Anyone who has a truckload of food to donate can call and request a pickup, Avery said. Donors with smaller quantities of food can either bring the food to Community Harvest or call to learn about nearby food banks that can use the donation.
Food needed includes green beans, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, onions – just about any kind of vegetable or fruit, Avery said.
Avery asked gardeners to consider donating the excess vegetables they usually struggle to pawn off on co-workers.
bmanley@jg.net
