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Volunteers from Quincy help plant the Interfaith Social Services' Food Pantry garden last spring at their offices
in Quincy Center.
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Keohane Funeral Home to
Donate Free Vegetable Seedlings to the Community
From May 13th through May 24th free vegetable seedlings will be distributed to volunteers who agree to raise them and donate the produce to the Interfaith Social Services' Food Pantry.
When you plant your garden this spring consider planting a little extra for your hungry neighbors. Keohane Funeral Home and Interfaith Social Services are kicking off their Fourth Annual Harvest Helpers program by distributing free vegetable seedlings to area residents. During the weeks of May 13th and May 20th free seedlings will be available to anyone who is willing to raise them and then donate the produce to Interfaith's Food Pantry when harvested.
"Interfaith's Food Pantry feeds thousands of South Shore residents every year," said John Keohane, funeral home co-president. "Everyone here at Keohane wanted to do something to help. So we planted a vegetable garden at our location in Quincy three years ago and we started this seedling giveaway. Each year more and more people are participating. It is great to see fresh healthy produce going to those who need it the most." To show that produce can be grown virtually anywhere each summer, Interfaith Social Services also plants a garden at their office in Quincy Center.
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John Keohane and Joe Reardon delivering produce during the
2012 Harvest Helpers program to Rick Doane (center).
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Interfaith Social Services operates a variety of programs designed to help the community. Each year their food pantry serves over 18,000 local residents. Their homelessness prevention and emergency assistance program assists hundreds of families every year. Whether they have health insurance or not, Interfaith's New Directions Counseling Center starts the healing process for many local families and individuals who are dealing with traumatic and emotionally charged issues.
"Food remains the biggest reason why people reach out to us for help," said Interfaith's executive director Rick Doane. "We want to give them more than just canned fruit and vegetables. Many of those served are families with young children; they desperately need healthy and nutritious food."
The National Garden Writers Association estimates that there are 84 million backyard gardeners in the United States. Keohane and Doane are hoping that the gardeners living here on the South Shore will mobilize around this issue and provide hungry area residents with fresh, locally grown food.
If you would like to receive some free seedlings, you can stop by Interfaith Social Services' office at: 105 Adams Street in Quincy, from 9:30am - 3:30pm May 13th - 17th. From 9:30am- 7:00pm Tuesday the 14th, and Saturday May 18th from 9:00am-12:00pm.
Seedlings will also be available at Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock Street in Quincy from 8:30am - 4:30pm May 13th - 24th.
If you don't have the room to grow a garden at your home or apartment you can help by volunteering to help tend the Interfaith Social Services' Food Pantry garden. You can also make a donation to support the Harvest Helpers Food Program at www.InterfaithSocialServices.org.
To volunteer, or for more information, contact Rick Doane at 617-773-6203, rdoane@InterfaithSocialServices.org; or Joe Reardon, 617-773-3551, joe@keohane.com.
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