'Plant a Row' Supports Akron/Canton Foodbank

Battling hunger couldn't be easier for Stow residents this year thanks to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

This year again the city will host a drop-off point at Stow City Hall for the foodbank's "Plant a Row" program, which asks gardeners to cultivate an extra row of produce in their garden to be grown and donated to the foodbank.

Kat Pestian, spokeswoman for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, said the foodbank asks residents in the eight-county area served by the agency to take part in the volunteer donation program.

"The principle behind plant an extra row is just that gardening and giving can go hand in hand," Pestian said.

Last year, the foodbank served 11,555 meals thanks directly to the plant a row program.

In Stow, gardeners who maintained plots at the Stow Community Gardens in 2012 donated 1,018 pounds of fresh vegetables — the equivalent of a $1,689 donation to the foodbank — to the program.

The city hall drop-off point collected 413 pounds of fresh vegetables in 2012, or the equivalent of a $685 donation to the foodbank.

Pestian said the foodbank encourages gardeners to plant vegetables that have a long shelf life and don't bruise easily. Recommended plantings include: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peas, green beans, peppers, eggplant, squash, onions, beets, potatoes and cucumbers.

When a crop is ready, Stow residents can bring their home-grown vegetables to Stow City Hall and leave them in the green bin outside the administrative entrance. The foodbank will pick up the items each Thursday during the summer.

Stow residents with questions can call the mayor's office at 330-689-2800.

The Akron-Canton Foodbank helps about 180,000 people annuallly who struggle with hunger.

“Our goal is to ensure no one in our community goes hungry, but ultimately we want them tohave access to the most nutritious food possible,” said Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.