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Plant.Grow.Share. Continues to Feed Those in Need during COVID-19

July 1, 2020

While many aspects of our daily lives have changed during the coronavirus pandemic, one thing has not changed and that is the need for fresh food, especially for our neighbors in need. Plant.Grow.Share. continues to donate seedlings, offer gardening advice and encourage donation of fresh produce to our local food pantries.  

“Today, more than ever, coming together as a community is very important. This year, the Plant.Grow.Share. program looks a little different, but our focus is the same – to help those in our community have access to fresh produce,” shares John Keohane, Co-President of Keohane Funeral Home.

The Plant.Grow.Share. program is a collaborative effort between Keohane Funeral HomeInterfaith Social Services, the Weymouth Food Pantry and the Milton Community Food Pantry to encourage backyard growers to donate produce to local food pantry clients.

Plant.Grow.Share. Video Series

Because we aren’t able to come together in person for our free tomato container garden workshops, we are excited to share this helpful video by Jon Belber of Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset. Jon shares his knowledge about planting and growing tomato plants. Jon is also a wonderful partner of the Plant.Grow.Share. program!

We will bring you follow up videos as the growing season progresses. You’ll be able to see how our plants are growing and get more tips on how to keep your plants healthy and happy.

Grow a Row to Share

The partners of Plant.Grow.Share. encourage you to PLANT a row of veggie seedlings at your home or business, GROW fresh food, and SHARE some of your harvest with our food local food pantries.

To make that possible, Keohane donated tomato plants to backyard gardeners and food pantry patrons on June 13. The tomato plants were available free of charge at Interfaith Social Services and the Weymouth Food Pantry Pop-up locations. Safe, social distancing measures were followed during distribution at the food pantries. Patrons who drove up in cars waited in their cars while a volunteer brought the plants to them. Volunteers also showed clients on foot where to pick up a plant.

“More than ever, coming together as a community is so important,” shares John Keohane, Co-President of Keohane Funeral Home. “Many families are struggling because of the pandemic and our hope is that the Plant.Grow.Share. program can help. Not only can gardening be stress-relieving but donating produce back to local food pantries brings people together to help feed those in need.”

How You Can Help

For those who would like to help, the food pantries are happy to receive donations of both home-grown produce and fresh store-bought produce.

Donations of fresh produce from your garden or supermarket for Interfaith Social Services can be dropped off at 105 Adams Street in Quincy from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Donations of fresh produce for the Weymouth Food Pantry are accepted at all three Pop Up Pantry locations or at their warehouse:

Tuesdays, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at The First Church at 17 Church Street, Weymouth

Thursdays, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Crossroads Worship Center at 241 Broad Street, Weymouth

Saturdays, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Old South Union Church at 25 Columbian Street, S. Weymouth

Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 40B Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland

Monetary donations can be made by visiting the following websites:
Interfaith Social Services http://interfaithsocialservices.org/donate/
Weymouth Food Pantry https://www.weymouthfoodpantry.org/donation-page
Milton Community Food Pantry http://miltonfoodpantry.org/donations/

For questions or to volunteer for the Plant.Grow.Share. program, please contact:

Joe Reardon, Vice President for Community Development and Advance Planning at Keohane Funeral Homes, (617) 773-3551

Rick Doane, Executive Director of Interfaith Social Services, (617) 773-6203

Pam Denholm, Executive Director of the Weymouth Food Pantry, (781) 331-7682

Pat Brawley-Morise, Director of the Milton Community Food Pantry, (617) 696-0221

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