PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY

Launched in 1995, Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is a public service campaign of the Garden Writers Association (GWA).  Its goal is to help to feed the hungry by establishing PAR networks in every state and province in North America.  In 1999, Home & Garden Television (HGTV) joined with GWA as a national media sponsor of PAR.  PAR has recorded over 8,000,000 pounds in donations.

Additional support is provided by The Scotts Company, the National Garden Bureau, The Happy Gardener, and Fafard, Inc.

PAR is proud to work collaboratively with a variety of organizations such as the National 4-H Council, Master Gardeners, AARP, community gardens and extension agents. Additionally, PAR works closely with the America’s Second Harvest’s network of food-rescue programs across the nation.  Second Harvest is one of the nation’s largest hunger relief organizations, and PAR frequently refers local committees to Second Harvest food banks.

 

Who Is HGTV? Home & Garden Television (HGTV) is distributed to more than 71 million U.S. households. HGTV is the only network devoted to providing viewers ideas, information and inspiration about the home. "HGTV is committed to supporting GWA in this ground-breaking public service campaign. Every day we urge our viewers to Imagine What You Can Do. On behalf of PAR, we now ask our viewers to imagine how they can help as they Plant a Row for the Hungry." Ken Lowe—Founder Home & Garden Television (HGTV)

Who Is The GWA? GWA is a highly respected organization of professionals communicating about horticulture, gardening, and the environment. Its mission is to provide leadership and opportunities for education, recognition, career development, and a forum for diverse interactions for professionals in the field of garden communication. For More information, click HERE Master Gardeners in the New River Valley (of southwestern Virginia) raised over 850 pounds of produce for 2001. Here is a photo of participants planting the plot in the Master Gardener community gardens demonstration plot in Blacksburg this past spring. Students tending one of the three PAR gardens (two 30'x 50' gardens and one 30' x 100' garden) at the Good Will-Hinckley Home for Boys & Girls in Hinckley, Maine. Visits to food pantries and soup kitchens receiving the 1,526 pounds they harvested helped the young people to realize the importance of the contribution they are making in their community. In addition to learning, helping and having fun, PAR earned half a science credit for the ten students who tended the gardens all summer.

Roadrunner Food Bank participated in in this type of project a couple of years ago and would like to sponsor this program for our community next year.  We have a small garden space at the Food Bank that yielded over 2000 pounds of fresh produce for our member agencies that season.  For the 2007 growing season, we are searching for a volunteer to coordinate the Albuquerque Plant A Row For the Hungry project.  This person would coordinate with local gardeners and farms in addition to overseeing the Food Bank Gardens.  If you or your civic club might be interested in managing the Albuquerque PAR program, please contact Patty Gillis(email) or call 505-349-8825.