Port Washington Grows Veggies for Those in Need

Port Washington is bringing awareness to the hunger issue in America by growing produce in their own backyard.

Any gardeners that have leftover fruits and vegetables are encouraged to bring the food to a distribution point in town.

This initiative is in part of the Plant A Row for the Hungry program.

“This wonderful program combines the experience of growing your own produce with the ability to help feed those in need,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth.

Participants in the program can bring their produce to the Bayles Garden Center, located at 88 South Bayles Ave.

There are more than 50 Plant A Row for the Hungry painted planters located throughout the Port Washington area, including one at North Hempstead’s Town Hall.

The Town Hall planter is growing growing eggplant, cherry tomatoes, basil, peppers, cucumbers, kale and more.

The PAR program was created by Port Washington resident and PAR Chief Vegetable Garden Executive Marv Makofsky.

Makofsky was inspired by a multi-cultural arts center in Hartford, CT, that set up painted planters with vegetables all around the city to help feed the homeless.

“In the more than 30 years that my family has lived here, I have never ceased to be amazed by the creative generosity of the Port Community, which is why we attempted to work on a project as important as this, confident that we could succeed and we have,” said Makofsky, who looks to expand his program to neighboring towns.

PAR has donated 6,500 pounds of produce in the past two years. In the program’s sixth year running, PAR will work with more than 950 children from various schools to teach them how to plant vegetables while they learned about sharing with the needy.

Anyone who is interested in growing with the planter and a variety of vegetables can do so for a $90 donation.

Image via Town of North Hempstead

Photo: Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Plant a Row for the Hungry Chief Vegetable Garden Executive Marv Makofsky, look over the planter that will sit in front of Town Hall.