How to Donate Your Ample Harvest

by Greg Plotkin · 2009-10-28 09:48:00 UTC
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Anyone who gardens can tell you that there's a certain point in September when you can't even give away all the extra tomatoes sitting out in your garden.

It was with this realization and the desire to alleviate hunger across the nation that led Gary Oppenheimer to found AmpleHarvest.org.   Speaking with Mr. Oppenheimer this morning, I learned that AmpleHarvest.org was launched with the vision to become a comprehensive national database that allows anybody to find a neighborhood food pantry to donate garden produce to.

Although the site has only been live since May 2009, it already has more than 1,000 pantries registered to receive excess produce from neighborhood gardeners in all 50 states.

Mr. Oppenheimer highlighted the need for such a resource with a great example.  With so few large food banks in states like Vermont, it's possible that if you had an extra bag of potatoes from your garden, you'd have to drive several hours away just to donate them.  With AmpleHarvest.org, you can connect with a food pantry a few miles from your home.

The other component of the site I like is that it requires very little technical know-how on the part of the food pantry.  Once they register (and this can actually be done by a volunteer or neighbor), there is nothing else the food pantry has to do (except sit back and, hopefully, see fresh produce start to come in from gardeners in the area).  This is especially important because many food pantries don't have Internet access, and are often run by the less computer-savvy elderly.

Through the Web site, food pantries are able to list what times and days they would like donated items to be dropped off, and can even constantly update a "shopping list" of store-bought items people can buy on their next trip to the supermarket and then donate to the food pantry.

In the near future, Ampleharvest.org is also planning to launch an iPhone app that will let gardeners locate their nearest food pantry right on their phone.

If you work or volunteer at a food pantry, make sure your location is registered on Ampleharvest.org (and to sign-up if it's not already there).

And to all your gardeners out there, this is a simple and easy way each and every one of us can make a difference.

(Photo credit: woodleywonderworks on Flickr)

Greg Plotkin currently works for Flying Pigs Farm in Shushan, NY. He is dedicated to eliminating inequalities in who has access to healthy food and alleviating hunger.
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