As a full-time working mom with an active two-and-a-half year old toddler and another child on the way, the idea of community service is good in theory, but not always realistic. However, when I read on Bethesda Patch that Farm to Freezer was seeking volunteers and the commitment could be as little as four hours on an upcoming weekend, I decided it was the perfect opportunity for me to get involved in a worthwhile cause to help my community.
Farm to Freezer is a local initiative that launched this summer in Montgomery County. The program receives donated produce from farmers markets or purchases the produce at a nominal price, and recruits volunteers to clean, chop and freeze the fresh vegetables for Manna, the county’s food bank for needy families. This initiative not only gives Manna clients access to healthy produce that they can use throughout the winter months, but it also helps to decrease waste from farmers markets. Plus the farmers get a tax deduction. Everybody wins. I spent four hours on Sunday in the Woodside United Methodist kitchen helping to wash and chop fresh green peppers, eggplant, squash and carrots. We then either blanched or roasted the vegetables, and we bagged them in batches and froze them so Manna would be able to distribute the healthy vegetables to its clients in upcoming months. At the end of the day, we had filled over 125 bags with fresh produce, which amounted to over 80 pounds of food. It was a good feeling knowing that many area families will benefit from our few hours of work. I also met some fun and interesting people throughout the day. I had a great time working alongside my fellow volunteers, learning about their backgrounds, their families, and their interests. Farm to Freezer operates every Saturday and Sunday between now and the end of October, and I look forward to volunteering with them again. I even got to take home some extra fruit and veggies at the end of the afternoon. The experience helped to renew my interest in using fresh, organic ingredients and cooking healthier meals for my family. For my next post, I may just have to share recipes of what I ended up making with the beautiful tomatoes and peaches that I took home. Stay tuned!
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