Programs That Plant Hope
A critical part of solving hunger is getting to the root cause of the issue — whether it’s a failing food system or a society that lacks resources for those reentering the workforce. Our Farm Link program is working to solve both issues by supporting Riverview Gardens and Service Works.
Farm Link focuses on improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables by buying from local farms and sharing purchased harvests with our pantry partners, and Riverview Gardens is one of five such partner farms.
Riverview Gardens, a beautiful 72-acre property in Appleton, Wisconsin, was once a country club, but today you’ll find veterans working in a hydroponic greenhouse, teenagers 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.”
Individuals who are facing hunger, living in poverty, or struggling after time as a defendant in the criminal justice system can learn work skills through Service Works and be part of a community that supports their desire to move forward in life. Of the individuals who seek job training from Riverview Gardens, 71% have received and maintained stable income and employment three years after completion.
Each week, our volunteers pick up greens harvested through Service Works and deliver the bounty to local food pantries. Riverview Gardens also receives support from Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in the form of other food that they distribute.
“It has been terrific to be a partner involved in the Farm Link program,” adds 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 says.
We’re grateful for the local farms that partner with us to feed our community — and for donors like you who help make it possible!
