MARYSVILLE, Ohio, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Millions of Americans from all walks of life are struggling to make ends meet and in some cases, even put food on the table. An estimated 1 in 8 Americans suffers from hunger and that number is climbing for families and children. Now more than ever, these challenging economic times provide opportunities for all Americans to pitch in and help. The simple act of gardening provides that opportunity.
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The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Plant a Row for the Hungry and Feeding America announced that they have joined forces in an effort to provide fresh produce to the hungry this summer and to ask Americans to take the GroGood pledge: Grow a garden for the greater good. To launch the GroGood pledge campaign, ScottsMiracle-Gro will donate 1 million pounds of produce and call on Americans to help double that donation by pledging to grow and donate an additional 1 million pounds of fresh produce to help feed those at risk for hunger.
"This program is designed to make it easy for backyard gardeners to get involved and make a difference. We hope Americans will support the GroGood program and plant a food garden this spring to reap the benefits of gardening for themselves and others," said Su Lok, director, corporate and community partnerships, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. "One million pounds may sound like a lot, but if just 40,000 people take the GroGood pledge and donate one full reusable grocery bag -- roughly the equivalent of 25 pounds of produce -- we'd hit our goal and help feed approximately 1.4 million Americans."
Fulfilling the pledge is as easy as planting an edible garden -- adding a pot, plot or row for those in need -- and donating the extra harvest to a participating soup kitchen, food or hunger relief agency. To get started, consumers can visit http://www.scotts.com/grogood or http://www.grogood.com/ to take the pledge, obtain tips and techniques on how to grow an edible garden, and how to find information on local food agencies that accept fresh produce donations.
In addition, ScottsMiracle-Gro, along with its partners, Keep America Beautiful, Garden Writers Association, Plant a Row for the Hungry, the National Gardening Association and Franklin Park Conservatory, will install community gardens in cities across the United States to encourage and support participation in the GroGood program. The produce grown in these gardens will be donated to local food agencies and soup kitchens.
The first GroGood community garden was installed yesterday in Los Angeles with the support of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the students of Roy Romer Middle School in North Hollywood. Additional community gardens will be developed in Miami, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
Sharing a garden's bounty is an idea that began 14 years ago when the Garden Writers Association launched Plant a Row for the Hungry to encourage gardeners to donate their surplus produce to local food banks, soup kitchens and service organizations. Since founded in 1995, more than 14 million pounds of fresh produce have been donated to local organizations through Plant a Row for the Hungry.
"The GroGood program will help raise awareness and bring together all gardeners, from those planting their first seeds to life-long gardening veterans, to garden for the greater good," said Carol Ledbetter, program administrator, Plant a Row for the Hungry. "We're proud to help people learn how to plant an extra row and connect gardeners with our extensive network of local food agencies so we can ensure food is provided to those at risk for hunger."
Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity with a network of more than 200 food banks and 63,000 local food agencies, will be the primary beneficiaries of the GroGood produce donations.
"Fresh, nutritious produce is an essential part of a healthy diet, and with a 30-50 percent increase in requests for hunger relief services, it is also in great demand," said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America. "The 1 million pounds of produce donated by ScottsMiracle-Gro, in addition to the 1 million pounds we hope will be donated from the GroGood pledge, will help provide 1.4 million meals to those in need. Every pound counts and we encourage Americans to take the pledge."
ScottsMiracle-Gro has long believed in the power of gardening to improve people's lives and society. Over the years, the company has cultivated relationships with several non-profit organizations that share this purpose, supporting community outreach and educational initiatives that enhance the environment through the creation of community gardens and public green spaces.
For additional information on the GroGood pledge, edible gardening resources or how to locate a local food agency that accepts fresh produce, please visit http://www.scotts.com/grogood or http://www.grogood.com/.
About The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
With nearly $3 billion in worldwide sales and more than 6,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts(R), Miracle-Gro(R), Ortho(R) and Smith & Hawken brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup(R) brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., the Company operates Scotts LawnService(R), the second largest residential lawn service business. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol(R), Pathclear(R), Evergreen(R), Levington(R), Miracle-Gro(R), KB(R), Fertiligene(R) and Substral(R). For additional information, visit us at http://www.scotts.com/.
About Plant a Row for the Hungry
Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is a public service program of the Garden Writers Association Foundation founded in 1995 by Jeff Lowenfels, a former president of the Garden Writers Association, newspaper columnist and radio/television host based in Anchorage, Alaska. PAR helps create local volunteer committees to support charities and relief programs designed to help feed the hungry by providing a focal point to connect the gardening community with food pantries, churches and other civic organizations. With over 27,000 volunteers in 50 states and an affiliate in Canada called Grow a Row, PAR has helped donate more than 14 million pounds of produce, representing 48 million meals, to local organizations. For more information about Plant a Row for the Hungry, visit http://www.gardenwriters.org/.
About Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network)
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org/.
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