Crocker Park's 'The Mange' Will Help Feed Those in Cleveland's Hunger Network

It was "planting day" on May 25, allowing children served by the Garden Valley Hunger Center on Kinsman Road in Cleveland to provide hands-on help at the Mange in Crocker Park.

The children volunteered their time and effort for a morning to help plant hundreds of produce plants, including peppers, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cucumbers, squash, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, green beans, watermelon, cantaloupe and more.   

The Mange (pronounced Mahnge) is a brand new partnership for The Hunger Network, which has more than 100 sites throughout Greater Cleveland participating in the “Garden for Giving.”

“The Garden for Giving is three years old,” Angela Dudek, Director of Special Events & Public Relations for the Hunger Network, said.

Dudek said they looked for partners with land, water and volunteers and Crocker Park’s Mange project had all three and was established. On planting day, eight children from the Garden Valley participated.

“It’s something they’ve never done,” Dudek said. “Crocker set up the garden and had plants and seeds ready.

“They did a beautiful job. They even donated lunch.”
Dudek hopes to bring the children back in mid summer to take a look at what their efforts have produced. Eventually, Crocker Park hopes to donate 1,000 pounds of food for the hungry.

Each week, as the plants are harvested, employees from Crocker Park will deliver the fresh produce to hunger centers within The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland.

It’s the property’s goal to donate 1,000 pounds of fresh produce to centers by the end of the year.   

This project will help fulfill the organization’s mission to reduce hunger in our communities by providing nutritious food for the hungry. With more than 100 pantries and hot meal programs strategically placed throughout Cuyahoga County, The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland strives to feed wholesome meals to 60,000 each month, with 25,000 (or 41 percent) of those served being children.   

Hunger Network centers are strategically placed in areas within Cuyahoga County where there is the most need. The Hunger Network is the largest emergency hunger relief program in Cuyahoga County, dispensing 75 percent of all emergency food.