PUYALLUP, WA- Imagine driving down your street, where the majority of neighbors host a front yard community garden, neighbors come together for potlucks, establish tool-sharing and community composting programs while creating safer, more beautiful neighborhoods. The worldwide Food is Free Project inspires just that.
Food is Free is a international movement that encourages food sharing. The first Food is Free garden was planted in 2012 in Austin, TX but has since inspired thousands of friends, neighbors, and communities to gather together in a spirit of giving back.
David Thompson, from the Food is Free Project of Tacoma, joined in the effort to grow and share food freely when he started the Tacoma chapter 4 years ago.
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“People have really embraced the Project”, David says. “Neighbors are coming up and introducing themselves to each other, and starting to bring their own food to share on the tables. Hopefully, these tables will become a neighborhood meeting place; A place where ideas can be shared... the feeling you get from freely and unconditionally giving to your neighbors is an indescribable joy.”
With 12 locations already around the city of Tacoma, and plans for an additional 20 sites to open next season, David has also inspired chapters to form in Spokane, Olympia, and Portland, OR.
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“I'm hoping to inspire others to form chapters all over the Pacific Northwest, especially in Puyallup”, David says. “Food is Free is open source so anyone can form a chapter and put out a sharing table. The logos are also open source, and mine was created by the Shroom Brothers of Tacoma. We could remove Tacoma and insert any place.”
For more information on how you can join David in giving back to your community, visit South Hill Community’s Facebook page, reach out to Food is Free of Tacoma, or check out the How to Start a Food is Free Project Guide and join the #foodisfree movement.
“Never underestimate your power to inspire and affect your community around you. Even the smallest of acts can really ripple out.” - John VanDeusen Edwards, Founder of Food is Free Project