July 23, 2024
Being on a tight budget can make fresh wholesome foods feel like a luxury.
Processed foods, at first glance, can feel like the best choice for our wallets but it’s certainly not the first choice for best health outcomes for ourselves and our families. As you can imagine, fresh produce is one of the most requested items our guests make at our Your Choice Pantry.
Thanks to the vision and tireless work of master gardeners, Gabbie Tanella and Bonnie Featherstone-Johnson, there’s been plenty of freshness available for Lunch Break’s Your Choice Pantry guests this growing season!
Gabbie and Bonnie, also long-time donors and volunteers with Lunch Break, created the Project Citizen Gardener Initiative which calls on our community’s gardeners to use their own backyard’s to make a difference by donating a portion of their produce yield to our pantry. Their call was heard and, so far this season, Lunch Break’s Your Choice Pantry has received 2,647 pounds of produce as a direct result of their efforts!
A special shout out to all the volunteer’s with green thumbs at Glenn Gardens and St. Anselm Church as well as the Master Gardeners of Monmouth County who have been growing and harvesting away for Lunch Break. Because of their efforts, our guests are enjoying collard greens, beets, kale, lettuce, broccoli rabe, cauliflower and much, much more!
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Project Citizen Gardener’s Impact
Your Choice Pantry Supervisor, Beth Sherrard, talks about the impact the Project Citizen Gardener Initiative has had on the pantry and our guests ability to access fresh fruits and vegetables.
