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By Lisa Moore
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
The Weston Road Community Gardens, part of the land popularly known as the North 40, is one of two community gardens in Wellesley that provide rental plots to residents. Administrated by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) through a resident board, Wellesley residents approved by the board are assigned a plot of land to garden. For the last nine years, the Weston Road Community Garden has partnered with the Wellesley Food Pantry, encouraging gardeners to donate extra produce. This year through a grant obtained by the NRC, Garden Plot 4C, a 40 foot by 60-foot plot, has been designated to grow produce specifically for the Wellesley Food Pantry (WFP). Resident volunteers signed up to manage the plot for the NRC, and have had a productive summer, providing a steady supply of produce, including onions, kale, tomatoes, potatoes, fennel, peppers, string beans, beets, carrots, bok choy, zucchini, summer squash, and a variety of herbs.
Each Monday, harvested produce designated for the food pantry is placed in collecting bins near the entrance to the Community Gardens. Volunteers from the Wellesley Food Pantry collect the produce early Tuesday mornings to be made available to the over 400 clients from about 200 households. Founded 26 years ago, the food pantry was created and run by resident volunteers with the goal of providing food security to Wellesley residents in need.
Kathy Trumbull waters Garden 4C, a 40 by 60-foot plot designated specifically to grow produce for the Wellesley Food Pantry.
Peter Lull, President of the WFP, explained that the donated produce is greatly appreciated and quickly disappears off of the pantry shelves. “Fresh vegetables are so important,” he said. “The variety of donated produce increases the chances of clients receiving multiple nutrients and a balanced diet. We have clients from many different cultures with a wide pallet. Everything donated finds a home.”
The WFP accepts produce donations from any garden, and home gardeners looking to donate their extra produce are encouraged to bring donations to the WFP, located at 207 Washington Street, Monday mornings between the hours of 8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. In addition to produce, the WFP accepts donations of canned and dry goods, and personal care products at collection bins near the exit or cash registers at Whole Foods and Roche Brothers. The Pantry also accepts monetary donations payable online or by check written to the WFP.
On November 4, the Scouting for Food drive will be held, representing the largest donation intake of the year. This critical fundraiser allows the pantry shelves to be restocked for winter and the holidays. Residents are encouraged to leave canned and dry goods in a plastic bag on their front steps on the morning of November 4. Local scouts volunteer to pick up donations and deliver them to the WFP.
Those looking for more information or interested in helping sort and stock food may sign up at the WFP website. It takes about 300 people to pull off the large task of sorting and organizing the donations.
