Whole Foods Market Fields to Families Garden a Growing Success Thanks to Community Partnerships

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. (September 12, 2010) – Fields to Families, an organization dedicated to helping increase nutrition to the area hungry by coordinating the distribution of fresh produce, expanded its operations this year to include a garden, with 100 percent of the produce going to feed the hungry.

“We are so grateful to our community partners and volunteers, not only for their financial support, but also their caring and concern for the most needy in our community,” said Phyllis Ford, chairperson of Fields to Families Board of Directors.

The Whole Foods Market Fields to Families Garden, located in Monck’s Corner, will grow even larger on Trident United Way’s Day of Caring – September 14 thanks to volunteers from Santee Cooper.

A dozen employees will work onsite with one group focusing on outfitting the “shedquarters” (where the supplies are housed) with shelving, bins, and hooks. The other team will build six additional beds using a no-till organic gardening method that was employed by the Master Gardeners with the assistance of Clemson Extension to install the garden’s existing beds.

Thanks to the generous support of Harvest Level sponsor Whole Foods Market – Mt. Pleasant, the Junior League, Sisters of Caritas, Blackbaud, Gardener’s Supply Company, and countless volunteers, Fields to Families’ inaugural garden was born in April of this year.

“Whole Foods Market is excited about our partnership with the Fields to Families Garden. Providing healthy, nutritious, locally-grown food to people in need is an important part of building and maintaining a healthy body,” said Pam Fischette, Whole Foods Market’s director of marketing. “We are inspired by the great work that Fields to Families is doing to make fresh produce available to the hungry in our communities.”

The Master Gardeners, Clemson Extension staff, and many other Fields to Families volunteers broke ground this spring by building six raised beds at the Monck’s Corner garden. They used a no-dig, no-till organic gardening method that results in rich, fluffy soil with very little work from the gardener. Since then, six additional beds have been added, yielding a harvest of squash, okra, eggplant, pepper, tomatoes, beans, and herbs.

An additional workday is planned at the garden on Saturday, September 18, when the Junior League, an organization that selected Fields to Families as a community partner organization this year, will install an additional six beds, bringing the total to 24 beds.

For more information about Fields to Families and to volunteer, visit

www.fieldstofamilies.org.

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A story from the volunteer + beneficiary perspective

On behalf of Fields to Families, we are so fortunate to have some of the best, hardworking volunteers in the Lowcountry. Among those that glean and are recipients for their community is Take It To The Streets Ministry. One thing that I have learned about gleaning is how to be flexible. Many of our volunteers let me know when they are available, but we have to keep in mind that the farmers are making the most of their opportunities to sell what they have. Usually in the 11th hour we receive a phone call or an invitation to glean.

This was the case last week, when Walter Earley from Hickory Bluff Nursery and Berry Farm made his strawberries available to Fields to Families. However, I am convinced it was Divine Intervention, I had a chance meeting with Take It To The Streets at the Blackbaud Volunteer Fair. I connected them with a fast-approaching glean date and they were able to meet the needs for their own community, while pairing us with a Georgia mission group.

Connor and Jesse are tremendous leaders for TI2TS and among the families they serve and touch on a daily basis. You have to visit their blog because it’s truly a touching story. Everything fell into place and much of the work was accomplished before the rain. You can not always plan for the best of situations, but must always be flexible with what you have got. The first day back from Memorial Day weekend was a huge feat to overcome, but with TI2TS it went off without a hitch!

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A Growing Inspiration: Katie Stagliano and Her Dream of “No Hungry Children”

Katie Stagliano poses with the cabbage she grew to help feed more than 275 people at a local soup kitchen. Click on the photo to see more!

Ten-year-old Summerville resident Katie Stagliano has a dream: make sure no children go to bed hungry.

Katie’s dream developed after she helped feed more than 275 people last year at a local soup kitchen and shelter, Tricounty Family Ministries in North Charleston. How did she do it?

Katie received a cabbage seed in her classroom and planted it in her family’s home garden. It was then she learned about the power of a tiny seedling…

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At the Market On a Fall Day

The grey skies didn’t stop the farmers from hauling the vegetables downtown, and that’s great for Fields to Families because the majority of our donations come from these generous donors. We are out here every Saturday from 12 to 2 with an information booth, and our awesome volunteers come each and every week to gather donated produce and deliver it to people in need. So next time you are at any of the area markets, stop by, and say hi and sign up to volunteer! (And take home some free veggie seeds!)

 

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Work Hard, Enjoy Life, Make a Difference

You may have noticed that www.fieldstofamilies.org recently got a makeover – thanks to Trio Solutions Inc.! This local marketing agency’s slogan is “Work Hard, Enjoy Life, Make a Difference” and that’s exactly what they did during the 2008 CreateAthon. Fields to Families was chosen from more than 50 applicants to receive free marketing services from a team of designers and marketers at Trio Solutions. The work was completed during a 24-hour, work around-the-clock creative blitz.

“We are so honored that we were selected by Trio Solutions to receive a redesign of our website, http://www.fieldstofamilies.org,” said Jacki Baer, Fields to Families director. “Our website serves as an important extension of our mission of easing hunger in the Lowcountry and helps educate the public and potential volunteers and donor agencies about our work.”

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