Sharing the Harvest: Donating Produce Engages the Community

Erin Fuller, a gardener at the Merchant Park Community Garden in the Irving Park neighborhood, initiated the connection with a local WIC office after realizing they often had extra produce. Gardeners glean weekly during the growing season, and Erin delivers the produce to WIC’s nutritionist who is then able to make sure the clients that need the produce the most will receive it. According to Erin, donating produce has helped to increase community involvement.

It has given us something other than growing plants to talk about when we have community events where we invite representatives and local businesses. I think it gives us more credibility as a community organization because we are directly involved in the community around us, not just in our own garden community.

Because of the successful partnership, the garden has decided to dedicate two 8’x8′ raised beds to grow for donation this year. Erin advises other gardeners interested in donating to “just start — start small and see where it goes.”