Plant a row for the hungry

“There is no typical hungry person,” says Kootenai County Plant a Row (PAR) volunteer coordinator Miranda Hamilton. “Rather it is usually someone who, due to unforeseen events, finds themselves needing help.” Local food agencies are often the only hope some people have to put food on their table, and according to Hamilton, “the need in Kootenai County is great.” Launched in 1995, Plant a Row for the Hungry is a nationwide, people-helping-people program that encourages gardeners to grow and donate extra produce to local agencies serving the hungry. PAR is a partner with Second Harvest of the Inland Northwest. PAR is rooted in the heartfelt tradition of gardeners sharing a bountiful harvest. Hamilton encourages anyone with a garden plot to dedicate a row of fruit or vegetables to help feed people in need. A 2010 Hunger Study done by Feeding America stated that there are 21,620 people experiencing food insecurity in Kootenai County. Other statistics provided by Second Harvest Food Bank cite that nearly 50 percent of those utilizing local food banks/meal sites are children or seniors; that 67 percent of all households report income below the federal poverty level; 46 percent of people seeking emergency food have children in their households, and more than half of those parents have gone without food, so their children could eat. “Many of our families have fallen on extremely hard times with the loss of jobs and with their unemployment benefits exhausted,” Hamilton says. “Homelessness has more than doubled just this past year.” Hamilton states that the Coeur d’Alene Community Action Partnership Food Bank served 10,245 individuals or 3,283 families in March and distributed 137,987 pounds of food. In February the food bank distributed 93,402 pounds—an increase of 44,585 pounds in just one month. “At times there is very little food on the shelves and the coolers are empty,” Hamilton says. Donated food can be delivered to various Kootenai County drop-off locations. All donations are weighed and donors are given a $1.50 per pound federal tax deduction. Hamilton works full time as a nutrition advisor for the University of Idaho Extension Nutrition Program. The program is funded by the USDA. She teaches nutrition topics including dietary quality, food safety, physical activity and food resource management, to limited-resource adults, children and seniors. She also helps them to stretch their food dollars and make more nutritious choices. Hamilton works in a variety of settings including local food banks, Head Start, elementary schools, social service agencies and anywhere else she is requested. Besides planting, people who want to help can volunteer to help plant or work a community garden; donate vegetable seeds, tools, or gloves; make a cash donation to purchase seeds; serve on the planning committee; help with the fall harvest; and encourage others to participate. Additionally, Hamilton has thousands of seed packets available to anyone interested in supporting the cause. For more information contact Hamilton at 446-1680.