About 10 to 13 homebound seniors receive fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs and honey with their meals thanks to a collaborative produce donation program that began in June with the non-profit Stamford-based Food Rescue US ; Alison Witherbee, Easton’s Municipal Agent for the Aging; the Easton Energy and Environmental Task Force; and Shaggy Coos farm.
Local home growers and others in town have been donating their veggies and fruits, which are dropped off every Tuesday at Shaggy Coos and picked up and delivered to the local food pantry at the Senior Center to be distributed to homebound seniors in town.
“We are very grateful for members of the Easton Garden Club and other home gardeners who have dropped off their excess produce each week, as well as for non-gardeners who chose to participate by purchasing extra items from local farms to donate,” said Diane Geisert, Food Rescue’s sustainability liaison.
“We also thank Silverman’s Farm and Sport Hill Farm for their generous donations of produce that supplemented our collection, particularly early in the season.”
Geisert said homebound seniors appreciate having access to the fresh produce and look forward to their weekly visit from Witherbee or another member of the Easton Commission for the Aging.
There is still time to drop off donated produce at Shaggy Coos on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. before the last collection day on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Witherbee partnered with Food Rescue because during the pandemic she noticed that seniors loved when the meals delivered to their home included fresh fruits and vegetables, staples not generally found in food pantries.
To learn more about the initiative contact Geisert at diane@foodrescue.us (not Shaggy Coos).
