I just read that poverty in the US is at the highest level on record. Results of the US Census tell us that 46.2 million people (15.1 percent) of the residents of this country were living in poverty in 2010. This means that many of our neighbors are forced to choose between paying rent or utilities and feeding their families. And we know that the cheapest calories tend to be the worst for our health, and we are seeing the dire effects of that!
It doesn’t have to be that way, and strengthening local food economies in ways that reach low-income communities is an important step.
In this regard, I found this next fact surprising, and this reality is at the heart of the particular efforts of a group called AmpleHarvest.org:
More than 40 million American grow fruit, herbs and vegetables in home gardens – and that number is increasing.
Often, there is a glorious surplus!
AmpleHarvest.org enables people to help their neighbors in need by reaching into their backyards instead of (or as well as) their back pockets.
Learn how to connect this glorious surplus with food pantries that wish to distribute fresh, organic, local food!