June Update

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Fresh Food, New Faces, and Growing Connections

As the days grow longer and the sun shines a little brighter, June welcomes us with the promise of growth, abundance, and fresh beginnings. It’s a month to celebrate not only the summer solstice but also the beauty of nature’s bounty and the joy that comes from tending a garden.

At AmpleHarvest.org, we’re all about turning that joy into impact—by connecting home and community gardeners with local food pantries so that no fresh food goes to waste. This year alone, thanks to generous supporters like you, 141 new food pantries—including 30 in May—joined our network, making it possible for even more families to receive fresh, nutritious produce.

As the season of harvest picks up, we’re excited to keep that momentum growing. If you’re able, please consider making a gift to help us reach more communities and nourish more neighbors with the goodness of garden-fresh food.

Whether you're sipping minted iced tea on a warm afternoon, savoring a juicy mango, or tending to your cucumber plants, we hope this newsletter inspires you to make the most of this fruitful month. Thank you for being a part of our community and for your continued support of our efforts to nourish neighborhoods and empower communities.

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

As we dive into National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, we invite you to share how you'll be celebrating this vibrant time of year. Whether you’re planning to try a new recipe featuring seasonal produce, host a backyard gathering with friends and family, or volunteer to help distribute fresh produce at a local food pantry, there are countless ways to embrace the bounty of June. At AmpleHarvest.org, we suggest exploring local farmers' markets to support small-scale growers, starting a home garden to cultivate your own fresh produce, or participating in community gardening projects. If you find yourself with a surplus harvest, consider donating to local food pantry (find one near you at AmpleHarvest.org) or organizing a "harvest day" where community members can pick excess produce to donate. We’d love to hear your plans, so please share your ideas and experiences with us as we work together to nourish our communities with nature’s gifts.

Your Donations at Work this June

Expanded Garden-to-Pantry Network: Helped over 1,000 gardeners find their local food pantries, ensuring that more fresh produce reaches those in need and helping to reduce food waste nationwide.
Raised Awareness for Food Insecurity: Increased awareness of food insecurity issues through a social media campaigns that reached over 10,000 followers, emphasizing the importance of donating fresh produce and supporting local farmers.

Welcome New Board of Trustees Members

AmpleHarvest.org is proud to welcome Mollie McMillan and Ted Wood to its Board of Trustees. Mollie brings a strong background in community engagement and food access through her work with Bonnie Plants, where she’s helped donate thousands of pounds of fresh produce to food pantries nationwide. Ted, a seasoned patent attorney and U.S. Air Force veteran, adds decades of experience in technology, innovation, and public service. Their unique expertise and shared commitment to fighting food insecurity will help guide AmpleHarvest.org as it continues to connect gardeners with local food pantries to reduce food waste and nourish communities.

Food banks are continuing to see large numbers of people needing food assistance. If you've planted a garden, think about growing more to feed more. If you can't grow a garden, share AmpleHarvest.org on social media, volunteer, or donate. Every act of kindness counts.