Amazing Grace Food Pantry Just Got More Delicious

Approximately one in six Americans does not have access to adequate amounts of nutritious foods, according to Ampleharvest.org. With a statistic like that, you might be surprised to learn that about 40 percent of food available in America ends up in the trash. Middletown's ownAmazing Grace Food Pantry has decided to step up to the plate and conquer such food waste.

It's not just forgotten leftovers and expired loaves of bread being tossed into garbage bins. Many backyard farmers — about 40 million — produce such bountiful harvests during the summer that much of their fresh fruits and vegetables end up rotting and going to waste.

So, like thousands of pantries across the country, Amazing Grace has joined forces withAmpleHarvest.org — a campaign to easily connect local gardeners with foods pantries nearby where they can donate their excess harvest.

“When they do their gardens, hopefully they’ll put a couple extra plants for us,” said Amazing Grace Program Coordinator Kathleen Kelly. “Instead of inundating their neighbors, maybe they’ll bring it to us.” 

There have only been two AmpleHarvest.org donations thus far, but Kelly remains optimistic. “It’s still early. When we’ll get it is when the tomatoes and zucchinis start getting harvested.” As for the customers, “I don’t know if it’s going to be life-altering,” said Kelly, “but what it will do is allow us to give people more fresh produce.”

The individual responsible for introducing Amazing Grace to AmpleHarvest.org was also one of their first contributors. Anna L. Brock of Middletown said she has always been a fan of growing her own fruits and vegetables and now she’s sharing her harvest with the rest of the community.  

“I just stumbled across AmpleHarvest.org on the Internet and was delighted to know about it,” said Brock. “They have that zip code search to find pantries nearby and I saw that Amazing Grace wasn’t on it. So I got in touch with them and they said it was wonderful and that they just got that new cooler.”

Thanks to the generosity of Don and Ann Marie Sataline, owners of It’s Only Natural Market at 575 Main Street, Amazing Grace now has a walk-in refrigerator where all donated produce can be kept fresh for families in need.

“Even with a small garden, there’s certain vegetables that get away from you. I always felt sad when things went to waste. I think other gardeners feel the same and now there’s an option to donate fresh, healthy produce and give people the opportunity to have that kind of nutrition in their diet,” said Brock, who donate her excess dill to the pantry. 

If you’re thinking that your excess harvest just isn’t enough, Brock says, think again. 

“Even if it’s just five zucchinis, that’s five zucchinis that they didn’t have before. And if everyone brings in five zucchinis, every little bit counts,” said Brock. “I just don’t want people to think that you need to have an extra bushel to donate.” 

With more than 800 families shopping at Amazing Grace each month, every cucumber counts. To contribute your excess harvest, just stop by Amazing Grace from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information on AmpleHarvest.org and to find a pantry near you, visit their official website.