Nebraska Mom of Two
“Through the Grow Together Nebraska program, a donation garden made possible by SNAP-Ed funding, a colleague and I partner with our Master Gardeners to grow, tend, harvest, and donate fresh produce to local distribution sites. One of the sites we regularly support is the Gering Methodist Church, which hosts a free soup supper on Wednesdays.
During a visit last summer, we set up a table with seasonal produce handouts and a nutrition education slideshow. We spoke with several participants about how to use the available produce, shared ideas for new recipes they were interested in trying, and discussed the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables.
One interaction stood out in particular. A family with two school-aged children was especially excited to try the fresh watermelon we had brought. One child exclaimed, “I’ve never tried orange watermelon before!” We spent time talking with their mother, who repeatedly expressed her gratitude for the free, fresh produce. What she shared was deeply moving:
“This produce will help us make it to the end of the month. I’ve been skipping meals to make sure my kids have food to eat. Now we’ll be able to stretch our pantry and make it to next month.”
This moment powerfully underscored the importance of the Grow Together Nebraska program and the impact that access to fresh, nutritious food can have on families in our community.”