Planting For A Purpose

Planting for a Purpose

Planting for a Purpose is a program for gardeners to plant a plot and donate fresh produce to local food pantries.  

Any gardener, novice, or veteran, who wants to give back via gardening can get involved. You do not have to be a participant in the community gardens program to be involved. Anyone who gardens at home or has their own micro-farm can participate and give back to the community. 

The Planting for a Purpose program also distributes free seed potatoes provided by Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program for those willing to donate half of their harvest to a food pantry.

Planting for a Purpose Gardener posing with boxes of pumpkins.

Why Donate?

Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to leading a healthy life, but buying produce can be a challenge for some. Two-thirds of Brown County food pantry users say they would like to eat more fruits and vegetables, but name cost as the top reason they do not. To meet this need, local food pantries would like to offer pantry consumers more fresh produce. Donations from your garden help make this possible!

What to Plant

Most pantries accept many types of fresh produce, but especially look for common fruits and vegetables that are easy to store. These include green beans, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, onions, apples, corn, squash and tomatoes.
 

A bunch of carrots, potatoes, egg plants, and greens.
Decorative

Produce Quality Safety Tips

  • Donate food that is ready to harvested
  • Wash your hands before handling produce
  • Brush off as much mud and soil as possible. Choose a spot with uncontaminated soil for your garden.
  • Store different types of produce in separate clean, food safe containers. If not donating produce right away, follow recommendations for refrigerating produce.
  • Keep animals and pets out of the garden.
  • If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t donate it.

Pantries That Accept Donations

De Pere Christian Outreach1827 Chicago St, De Pere 54115M-F | 10am-12pm
Manna for Life1545 University Ave, GB 54302Th | 10am-1pm
Paul’s Pantry1520 Leo Frigo Way, GB 54302M-F | 7am-2pm
Sat | 7am-1pm
Presbyterian Pantry200 S. Ashland Ave, GB 54303T-W | 9:30am-2pm
Pulaski Community Pantry234 West Town Rd, Pulaski 541621st & 3rd T | 1-4pm
Resurrection Food Pantry1024 Shawano Ave, GB 543031st,2nd,3rd Th | 9-11am
4th,5th Th | 5:30-7:30 pm
Salvation Army626 Union Ct, Green Bay, 54303M-F | 8am-4:30pm
Hope Center Pantry505 Clinton Street, Green Bay, WI 54303M-Th | 1-3pm (fresh produce pref M-T 1-3pm)
Trinity Lutheran Church330 S. Broadway, Green Bay 54303M-Th | 7am-3pm
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