The Lewes Community Garden (LCG) announced this week that it has welcomed Teach A Person To Fish Society (TAPTF) into its community garden family. TAPTF, founded by co-directors Teresa and Cass Ripley, is a Sussex County nonprofit whose mission is to provide fresh produce to local food bank outlets. Tackling food insecurity in Sussex County – which was greatly exacerbated by the pandemic – has been TAPTF’s first priority. The nonprofit will claim one of LCG’s community sponsored garden beds and LCG will provide volunteers to help maintain this bed.
In addition to the LCG partnership, Teresa says TAPTF has formed a network of chef partners who cook individually packaged, ready-to-eat, wholesome and nutritious meals. TAPTF delivers these meals to food pantry outlets (Community Resource Center & Lighthouse for Broken Wings in Rehoboth) twice a week, and bi-weekly to Milton Food Pantry. “We use chefs to prepare the meals to ensure safe food handling practices are followed, individually package the meals because of COVID gathering (common meal) restrictions, and prepare them “ready to eat” because many of the impoverished in our community do not have access to cooking facilities,” says Teresa.
TAPTF’s next initiative is to build a system of community/private gardens to supplement the food bank’s offerings of fresh produce. Including the plot at LCG, TAPTF has three other gardens at various community/private sites, and plans to cultivate more in years to come.
Perrin Smith, LCG chair says that TAPTF joining the garden is a welcome addition and reinforces the community garden’s goal of providing more produce to those in need in the community. Last year LCG donated over 600 pounds of produce to local food banks and church groups. “This is a tradition we plan on continuing in the years ahead and partnering with groups like TAPTF makes our goal of increasing our food donations all the more attainable.” says Perrin.
If you would like to sponsor a bed for a low income family or to make a donation, mail a check to the Lewes Community Gardeners Fund, P.O.Box 436 Lewes, DE 19958. For more information about Lewes COmmunity Garden please visit the website: https://www.lewescommunitygarden.org
For more information about TAPTF Society or to volunteer or make a donation, please visit: https://taptfsociety.org
Thank you to the Cape Gazette Newsroom for their help in spreading a little good news 🙂
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