Community Harvest Project To Host Annual ‘Plantapalooza’
Friday, May 17, 2013
Plantapalooza is fun for the whole family. Photo courtesy of Jerry Callaghan
The Community Harvest Project is holding its 'Plantapalooza' annual plant sale fundraiser this Saturday at 37 Wheeler Road in North Grafton. The event lasts 8 am-2 pm.
There will be various top-quality annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetable plants available for purchase in addition to many other fun festivities including a cookie walk featuring fresh-baked cookies, raffles, alpacas, activities for kids, a craft sale featuring the goods of local crafters and tasty food, and all in a beautiful setting.
Proceeds from the event go to support the operations of the Community Harvest Project, including providing needed funds to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for hunger relief in Worcester County
"Last year, we were able to grow and donate over 250,000 lbs. (nearly 1,000,000 servings!) with the help of 9,200 volunteer visits," says Kristin Bafaro, the executive director of the Community Harvest Project.
"The event also gives us an opportunity to invite community members to the farm to learn about our mission and work. Community members can not only purchase plants, but in doing so, they become part of the solution to hunger in their own community!"
The chief goal of the Community Harvest Project overall is to build an engaged and healthier community, and this event allows them to further this cause in a major way. Thousands of volunteers come together for a common purpose.
"Most importantly, by coming to 'Plantapalooza', attendees will become part of the solution to hunger in our community. Each dollar spent means more fresh fruits and vegetables that we’re able to grow for hunger relief in Worcester County," says Bafaro.
Attendees should come to 'Plantapalooza' as early as possible as well. The first 1,000 to arrive will receive free tomato plants.
The Mission of the Community Harvest Project
In Worcester County, over 99,000 people utilize hunger relief services through local food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Community Harvest Project provides a consistent supply of high quality, highly nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables that are distributed throughout these hunger relief organizations.
At the Community Harvest Project's farms in North Grafton and orchard in Brimfield, volunteers plant and harvest thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for their neighbors-in-need. The organization began in its current form in 2002, carrying on the legacy of Bill and Rose Abbott of Hopkinton who began to donate vegetables from their farm to the needy in the 1970s.
'Plantapalooza' is one of two fundraising events this important organization holds each year.
"We can’t do our work without community engagement, and our events bring community members to the farm - providing opportunity for us to increase awareness and also to raise funds," remarks Bafaro.
For more information on 'Plantapalooza' and the Community Harvest Project please click here.
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