TOWN OF FREDONIA, Wis. — A Grafton-based food pantry is taking a new approach to fighting food insecurity by growing its own produce.
Family Sharing began planting Thursday morning on a new farm plot in the Town of Fredonia, a just-over-1,000-square-foot space that will produce rows of fresh fruits and vegetables for people in need. The initiative comes as food pantries across Wisconsin face mounting pressure from rising grocery costs.
"Food pantries across the state are struggling," Family Sharing Food Pantry Director Brandon Savage said. "The cost of groceries is increasing for people who need help the most... Very few pantries out there have done something like this."
The new plot is an expansion of an existing partnership between Grafton-based Family Sharing and the Albert & Ann Deshur JCC Rainbow Day Camp's Bonim Farms in the Town of Fredonia.
Representatives from Family Sharing emphasized the partnership at TMJ4's recent Let's Talk listening session in Cedarburg.
Watch: Why an Ozaukee food pantry is starting to grow its own produce
For years, Bonim has served as a workforce readiness program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Farm Fellows like Jared Steeno will water the plot daily.
Lenny Kass, executive director of the Albert & Ann Deshur JCC Rainbow Day Camp, highlighted the connection between the two organizations during a visit to the farm.
The new plot is expected to increase the fresh produce Family Sharing receives from Bonim Farms by at least 15 to 20 percent. Volunteers are already lined up to help maintain it.
Family Sharing Volunteer Emmalee Schmutzler is helping work the new farm as part of a church mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was among those who helped plant the donated plot for the first time.
"It's hard work, but it is rewarding, and it's fun to be able to work alongside some really cool people," Schmutzler said.
Savage said the organization is committed to expanding the effort over time.
"Any time that we need to be out here, we're going to be out here," Savage said. "And as the years go by, we're willing to scale this project up."
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