Seasonal effort to Squash Hunger starts
First published in print: Thursday, July
16, 2009
TROY --
Capital District Community Gardens has begun its annual Squash
Hunger program that provides fruits and vegetables to neighbors in
need.
The
seasonal effort, which continues through October, collects produce
donated by gardeners, farmers, community-supported agriculture
members and shoppers at drop-off sites around the Capital Region.
The food is then distributed by volunteers to local shelters, food
pantries and missions.
Capital
District Community Gardens encourages gardeners to plant extra crops
to share and asks CSA members to donate any produce that won't be
used by their own households.
Also,
shoppers are asked to buy a little extra fruit or vegetables to add
to the bins.
Later in
the season, much of the donated food will come from the
overabundance many gardeners are confronted with at harvest time.
"Farmers
and gardeners, by their nature, really hate to see good food go to
waste, yet waste is an inevitable reality when you're talking about
perishable foods," Executive Director Amy Klein said.
Capital
Distrct Community Gardens is also seeking volunteers (for both
weekly schedules and fill-in duties when regular volunteers are
unavailable) to pick up, weigh and deliver food.
The
organization will provide "I'm Planting a Row for the Hungry" row
markers upon request.
Anyone
interested in volunteering or in committing to plant extra produce
should contact Audrey Leduc at Capital District Community Gardens at
274-8685 or e-mail info@cdcg.org.
-- Sean
Bikowitz
How to help
Those
interested in donating may drop off produce at the following Squash
Hunger collection locations during regular business hours (or as
noted):
Capital
District Community Gardens office, 40 River St., Troy. 274-8685
Delmar
Farmers Market (Bethlehem Central Middle School), 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.
Saturdays
Delmar
Marketplace , 406 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. 439-3936
Greulich's
Market, 3403 Carman Road, Schenectady. 355-1530
Honest
Weight Food Co-op, 484 Central Ave., Albany. 482-2667
Hannaford
Supermarket , 5 Maple Road, Voorheesville. 765-2629
Hannaford
Supermarket, 3703 NY Route. 43, West Sand Lake. 674-2846
Kristy's
Barn, 2385 Brookview Road, Schodack. 477-6250
Roma
Importing, 9 Cobbee Road, Latham. 785-7480
Troy
Riverfront Farmers Market (Riverfront Park), 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Wednesdays
Troy
Little Italy Farmers Market (Hill Street between Washington and
Liberty), 3– 6 p.m. Wednesdays
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