Pennsylvania Garden Feeds Thousands, Seeks More Helpers

A small team of volunteers in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania just proved what five people with a mission can accomplish: thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables for families facing food insecurity.

The St. Vincent de Paul Monastery Community Gardens has been quietly transforming dirt into dignity for years. This season, core volunteers like Allen Stevens, Sherry Nagle, and Pam Root-Baechle tended fields of tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and cantaloupe that will feed neighbors through local food pantries.

Last Tuesday, they harvested 25 pounds of fresh peppers for the Roaring Spring Library's food program. It's one of several weekly deliveries to pantries serving families who struggle to afford fresh produce.

"It provides them access to nutritionally, locally grown fruits and vegetables that a lot of the time families cannot afford," said Michelle McIntyre, the library's director. Her pantry alone served 16,000 people last year.

Root-Baechle has dedicated eight years to the garden, spending mornings watering flowers and pulling weeds. She and fellow volunteers also create flower arrangements for a local church and invite community members to pick blooms for their homes.

The Ripple Effect

The garden's impact extends beyond the harvest numbers. Every tomato picked and pepper delivered represents a family meal made healthier and a grocery budget stretched further.

The volunteers work Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 8 to 11 a.m., providing all equipment needed. No gardening experience is required, just a willingness to get a little sweaty and dirty for a good cause.

"Just showing up and helping for a few hours can make a big difference," said Will Kanich, assistant executive director at SVDP. "It's rewarding to know that the work you're doing is helping put fresh food on someone's table."

With more hands, Stevens said they could expand production, bring additional fields into cultivation, and increase the variety of crops. The goal is simple: grow more food for more families.

This dedicated crew has already proven what's possible when people show up for their neighbors.