One of the many challenges involved in addressing food scarcity especially with groups that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of nutrition such as the homeless is gaining access to fresh and nutrition-heavy foods. People in Oregon are supporting their local shelters and food banks through production in their own backyards. Oftentimes at home gardeners run into a dilemma of more produce than a single household can consume. Balancing a garden to account for the amount of food produced used to be a major concern for gardeners to prevent food waste. One way gardeners are re-routing these overages is to local food banks, shelters and kitchens. Doing so allows individuals to directly impact the lives of others around them and to improve the community at large all while indulging in a rewarding hobby of gardening. Food banks have developed easy-to-use online programs to help get gardeners in contact with a local food bank to partner on sharing some produce. One Such program is the food finder resource from the Oregon food bank’s website. Such programs allow for more nutritious food to be circulated throughout the community, allowing for food banks to access fresh cost-effective product that is made locally. Best of all it allows anyone with a planter and a green thumb to become involved in their community. Food banks recommend reaching out to learn what the community needs for products and how to prep and schedule delivery of produce.
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