Supporting Programs that Plant Hope
A critical part of solving hunger is getting to the root cause of the issue—whether that is a food system that is failing or a society that lacks resources for those reentering the workforce. Through our Farm Link program, we are solving both these issues by supporting Riverview Gardens and Service Works.
Farm Link is a farm-to-food bank initiative of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin focused on improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables by supporting local farms and sharing purchased harvests with our pantry partners. We currently contract with five local small farms across the region, and that number is growing.
One Farm Link partner sits on a beautiful 72-acre property hidden in the middle of Appleton, WI. Those familiar with the area know that this land was once a country club that served as an oasis for a round of golf or an afternoon by the pool.
Now, instead of lifeguards and caddies, you’ll find veterans working in a hydroponic greenhouse, school-aged teens harvesting fresh produce, and individuals from all walks of life working together to reacclimate themselves back into the workforce.
“Our entire mission is to build dignity through job training and employment,” says Angie Bleck, Riverview Gardens Vice President of Development Strategies. “We’re a social enterprise that works with people experiencing homelessness and people the furthest from opportunity.”
The people Bleck described could be facing food insecurity, living in poverty, or struggling after time as a defendant in the criminal justice system. Through Service Works, they learn work skills and are part of a community that supports their desire to move forward in life. Each week, our volunteers pick up greens harvested through Service Works and deliver the bounty to local food pantries.
“It has been terrific to be a partner involved in the Farm Link program,” added Bleck. “It directly impacts the people that are in the community.[Most of] the people in our program … are also the recipient of all the work that they are doing,” she said. “A lot of people utilize the pantries. So, it really does come full circle and the (Farm Link) process provides that.”
Riverview Gardens also receives support from Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in the form of other food that they distribute. The long-term effect of programs such as Farm Link, and the initiatives of Riverview Gardens, cannot be ignored. Of the individuals who seek job training from Riverview Gardens, 71% have received and maintained stable income and employment three years after completion.
