from Naperville Park District:
On Monday, October 15, 22 enthusiastic volunteers worked from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. gathering vegetables left behind after the Naperville Park District’s Garden Plots were closed for the season. This year’s gleaning yielded over 680 lbs. of vegetables for Loaves & Fishes Community Services. Master Gardeners Ron Ory and Logan Wasson developed the idea to glean vegetables at the Garden Plots in 2011, when the first group of volunteers gathered 160 lbs. of vegetables. The master gardeners also maintain their own garden plots dedicated to providing produce for Loaves & Fishes all summer long. Other gardeners donated vegetables as well, using a donation station that was set up at the plots during the gardening season.
“Loaves & Fishes is immensely grateful to those wonderful gardeners who donated so much fresh produce for our client families, as well as to the 22 people who volunteered their time gleaning the remaining crops,” said Loaves & Fishes’ Community Relations Director Jody Bender. “Their dedication in ensuring that Loaves & Fishes received this food speaks to their true community spirit in helping to nourish their neighbors. Additionally, the gardeners’ work was made much more challenging by this year’s drought, making us even more appreciative of their efforts. We also want to recognize the Naperville Park District for donating the garden plots for this purpose. Loaves & Fishes emphasizes access to fresh, nutritious foods, so this wonderful donation of fruits and vegetables helps our families to live healthier lives.”Varieties of vegetables donated in the recent gleaning included Brussels sprouts, carrots, kale, onions, beets, squash, pumpkins, potatoes, parsnips, lettuce, herbs, and bok choy. For questions about the Naperville Park District and its programs and facilities, please visit www.napervilleparks.org.