A sense of community and food to go

Since March, Kia has received a produce box right to her doorstep in an affordable-housing community in Northampton, MA. Filled with beautiful local fruits and veggies from the farms of Western MA and household essentials, the delivery makes Kia feel safe and stay healthy throughout the pandemic. Plus, she is trying new healthy recipes, like summer salad with grapefruit dressing.

Kia is just one of the 800 families served each week through this new program spearheaded by Foundation grant partner, Grow Food Northampton (GFN). And it’s worth noting that GFN got this program up and running in just 6 days, by collaborating with local farmers and other agile community partners.

Timed perfectly with meal delivery from the public-school system, Grow Food Northampton volunteers deliver these boxes to ALL 14 affordable housing communities in the city, reaching young families, older adults and people with disabilities.

We had the chance to see this program in action and check out the Harvard Pilgrim-supported Giving Garden down the road that is blooming with fresh produce for families in need.