A community garden network in central Louisiana, the Good Food Project, received a $75,000 grant this week from the Central Louisiana Community Foundation. It will allow the sustainable gardening nonprofit to start 10 additional community gardens and help feed more than 5,200 people through the expansion during the year, according to Food Bank of Central Louisiana executive director Jayne Wright-Velez.
Four years ago, she says, her food bank turned a part of its own property into a community garden to supplement what it gives to its clients.
“Gardens are a ton of work and they’re quite a commitment from whatever organizations we work with. From schools to shelters to youth centers -- it all requires teamwork and lots and lots of volunteers,” Wright-Velez said, following a check presentation ceremony Wednesday afternoon. “As we’re working with groups who want to start gardens, that’s the first thing we talk to them about is the level of commitment because it’s not just we plant on one day and then we show up later and there are the beautiful vegetables. It takes commitment and drive to keep them going.”
The grant, called the Community Impact Award, was created in 2009. Central Louisiana nonprofits have received $400,000 through the fund.
The Good Food Project currently supports 40 garden programs across the 11 parish region.
Keller Enterprises, which operates Inglewood Farm near Alexandria, put up the seed money to start the Good Food Project.
