Posts Tagged ‘hungry’

Posted by Alicia Camden | March 21st, 2011

[Cross-posted from Capital Area Food Bank]

Whether you’re a master gardener or a terrified newcomer to backyard gardening (like me), you can help the Capital Area Food Bank relieve hunger with your extra squash and tomatoes.

The Grow a Row program connects D.C., Virginia and Maryland gardeners with CAFB partner organizations in their neighborhoods, creating “produce partnerships” that bring more nutritious fruits and vegetables to underserved communities.

We’ll set you up with someone who’s doing some good in your community, someplace where you’ll hopefully get a chance to see the positive difference your donation makes. Not only will you have someplace for that inevitable overabundance of one-thing-or-another, you’ll be a part of relationships that build stronger communities.

You’ll provide underserved communities with a resource they desperately need but have little access to. You’ll enjoy the unique satisfaction of filling a need while enjoying a stress-reducing, money-saving, earth-friendly hobby.

Best of all, you’ll get this great sign for your garden! For free!

You don’t need to quit your day job to grow food for the hungry. Whatever the size of your donation, we’ll find you a partner that will get your produce into the homes and onto the tables of your neighbors in need.

For more information, contact Alicia Camden at growarow@capitalareafoodbank.org

Posted by Xi Wang | March 9th, 2010

DC Food Not Bombs is an adhocratic group that shares vegan and vegetarian meals to promote healthy eating, peace, non-violence, community, and the reduction of waste in our economies. Barrett Jones made this short video of some of the behind-the-scenes preparation and serving.

[Cross posted to DC Food Not Bombs]

Posted by Greg Woods | March 3rd, 2010

Over the last two years of leading service projects in Washington DC, I have volunteered with several soup kitchens and homeless shelters. I respect and admire the work these organizations do. They help some of our most forgotten citizens.

One thing I love about some of these organizations is that they do great work rescuing unwanted food. For example, last year Bread for the City started its Glean for the City program, which gathers vegetables from local farms — all for free. And one of the better known examples of food-reclamation in the country was founded here in DC in 1989 — the DC Central Kitchen started off making meals for the homeless from the leftovers from the Presidential Inauguration festivals. These days, they rescue more than 600,000 pounds of food a year.

But in some cases at several service organizations, I see a large amount of food waste ends up in the trash. I often wonder: Can these organizations compost? Is there a way to ‘close the loop’ on this process, to give back to fields that produce the food? In response to these questions I raised to the DCFoodforAll Google Group, representatives from the Common Good City Farm, located near Howard University, say that the farm will start accepting compost from community members.

This may be just the start of a series of such community composting opportunities.

Posted by gplotkin | February 10th, 2010

Snowpocalypse Note: Miriam’s Kitchen will continue to be open for breakfast (6:30 – 8am) and dinner (4:45 – 5:45pm) regardless of snow for the rest of the week.  Anyone seeking help is welcome at Miriam’s (2401 Virginia Avenue, NW) Monday through Friday.

After a much-anticipated wait, Miriam’s Kitchen — the Foggy Bottom soup kitchen made famous by a visit from Michelle Obama last winter — is now officially open for dinner. Since its founding in 1983, Miriam’s has served breakfast to tens of thousands of homeless Washingtonians, and is now expanding its services to help feed even more of the city’s needy residents.

A couple Fridays ago, I stopped by Miriam’s to observe the new dinner program. From the chatter I heard coming from the dining room tables set up around the room, I’d say the program has been a success so far.