Harlem Urban Farming Org Receives $10K Grant From Starbucks

HARLEM, NY — Harlem Grown, a community nonprofit that operates urban farms and increases knowledge of healthy food, recently received a $10,000 Neighborhood Grant from the Starbucks Foundation.

The Harlem nonprofit has two locations in the neighborhood, one at West 127th Street and another at West 134th Street.

The organization was one of more than 1,900 nonprofits to be selected of the 19,000 nominations for the grant. For an organization to have been chosen, it had to be nominated by a Starbucks partner (employee).

“My first experience with Harlem Grown was as a store manager in the Harlem Area five years ago," Starbucks store manager Islam said in a news release. "I volunteered and had the opportunity to hear the story of Harlem Grown directly from its founder and plant various fruits and vegetables."

"We came back later that year and had the opportunity to harvest the very plants that we seeded. It was truly unique and rewarding experience," they added.

Since 2011, Harlem Grown has operated local urban farms and increased access to and knowledge of healthy food for the Harlem community.

Harlem Grown received one of the highest number of nominations of any in the country, with 155 Starbucks employees nominating the nonprofit.

“When I heard Starbucks partners (employees) were coming to volunteer on our farms, I was excited to relive a familiar environment," said Assanah, Director of Agriculture at Harlem Grown, in a news release. "Prior to Harlem Grown, I spent years working with Starbucks. Starbucks was a sustainable, trustworthy place of work."