Montclair Nonprofit Grows Fresh Veggies, Shares With Local Seniors

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A local nonprofit in Montclair says their ongoing campaign to provide fresh veggies for low-income seniors has been a big success – and the community is welcome to pitch in.

The Northeast Earth Coalition (NEEC) grows fresh vegetables from their on-site gardens, which its members have been sharing with nearly two dozen senior residents of The Montclair Inn.

This year, the NEEC has expanded its program for seniors to two additional low-income residences: First Montclair House and South End Gardens.

“There is no central kitchen at these locations, so the residents prepare their own meals,” the nonprofit reported in a recent email. “As we all know, fresh vegetables can be costly. By delivering fresh, local, organic produce directly to the seniors, the NEEC hopes to relieve some of the financial burden of buying groceries as well as to provide high quality, nutritious ingredients for the clients to incorporate into their meals.”

“This collaboration will continue through the fall, and hopefully for years to come, but we need your help,” the NEEC continued. “Our gardens require constant maintenance—irrigation systems break, hoses rupture, wooden beds deteriorate, compost tumblers break down, fencing needs repairs—plus the cost of seeds, seedlings, and soil amendments adds up.”

Want to pitch in? The NEEC is welcoming volunteers (learn more here). The nonprofit is also accepting financial donations (learn more here).

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