Food banks are a lifesaver, but they don’t always make for the healthiest of diets. A volunteer organization in Floyd County is moving to bring more fresh vegetables and healthy proteins to the table.
The food bank and farm known as PLENTY in Floyd County, is constantly coming up with ways to provide that missing link. Connecting people who have surplus food with others who don’t have enough.
Last year volunteers delivered fresh produce each week to 95 families who did not have transportation to get to the food bank. Another 1500 bags were picked up by those who did. Helping to fill those bags was a program called Adopt a Crop. Even if you don’t have a bumper crop to share, you can still support the effort by adopting a row of vegetable on a participating farm.
“The goal of the program is to make it so that even small donations have an impact.”
Agatha Grimsley is on the board at Plenty Farm and food bank.
“Even a kid could reach into his pocket and pull out 2 dollars and feel like he was making a difference because 2 dollars buys a row foot of carrots or potatoes.”
Last year’s adopt a crop program was so successful that now they’re adding adopt a CHOP. Local, pasture raised pork will go for five dollars a pound, under market value. The farmers who grow these vegetables and livestock are making a donation to ‘Plenty’ and so are the people who adopt their crops.
Make your donation directly to Plenty! through their website, mail it to 192 Elephant Curve Rd., Floyd VA 24091, or swing by Plenty!’s Share the Spare Table at the Floyd Farmers Market.
