Earn one Merry Money Buck for every $10 you spend in September and October (while supplies last). Then, bring back your Merry Money during the entire month of December and Save!

Each Merry Money Buck is worth a dollar when matched with a U.S. dollar. Merry Money Bucks can be used for purchases with some exceptions: sale items, special orders, gift cards, returns and out-of-stock items

Plant-A-Row Program

SHARE THE BOUNTY OF YOUR HARVEST WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED

The Plant a Row program started in Anchorage, AK when a local columnist asked his readers to “plant a row” of vegetables to be donated to the local soup kitchen.  The program was so successful that he introduced it to the Garden Writers Association to promote as a nationwide program.  Since it’s inception in 1995, over 14 million pounds of produce have been donated to local food pantries by American gardeners.  All this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape -just people helping people. 

Our goal in supporting Plant a Row is to make local gardeners aware of this program.  Often times, people have more produce than they can possibly eat from their gardens and are wondering where to go with it all.  We have contacted the Community Interfaith Food Pantry to notify them of our support of this wonderful program and let them know we have introduced it to our customers.  We’re hoping that, with your help, donations will increase this year as more people become aware of Plant a Row and how it provides our local community.

Community Interfaith Food Pantry was formed when 11 churches pooled their resources and worked together to create one central location. They started serving the Belleville area in August 2007.  This year because of the economy, they have seen an increase of families served.  They are now providing food for over 120 local families weekly. During the summer, their requests increase because children are no longer eating lunches at school. Produce donations are greatly appreciated because they’re fresh and tasty, but, they also help the pantry to conserve their non-perishables for the fall and winter months.  

How the program works with us:

Each time you make a donation, the food pantry will weigh your produce and give you a receipt.  Bring that receipt to us and we’ll record the amount on your personal donation form.  At the end of the season, we’ll total up how many pounds of produce you donated and you’ll be rewarded with a perennial and/or shrub based on total pounds donated for the season.  For each 5 pounds of produce you donate, you’ll earn 1 point.  You can “buy” a 1 gallon perennial with 10 points or a 1 gallon shrub for 15 points. 

As our way of saying thank you, we’re planning a bonfire party in the fall for all those who participated, no matter how much or how many times they donated.  And we’ll have a $50.00 Sandy’s Back Porch Gift Certificate for the person who donated the most produce.

Donation Site:
Community Interfaith Food Pantry
Corner of N. 2nd St and West “B” st
Belleville, IL
618/355-9199
Donation Hours
Mon/Wed/Fri 1-3pm
Tue/Sat 9-11

For articles about this Food Pantry go to:

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=1294B9B2421AA40&p_docnum=1

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=1294B9B249
DD19C8&p_docnum=2