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Arlington gardeners launched the spring growing season with an unusually large first-day haul of fresh produce, putting a 20,000-pound annual donation goal within sight.
On Monday, May 12, donations crowded a table at Rock Spring United Church of Christ as volunteers prepared vegetables and herbs for local food pantries. The collection included golf ball-sized radishes, lettuce, kale, strawberries, broccolini, cherry tomato plants, thyme, rosemary and basil.
The effort is organized through the Friends of Urban Agriculture program. During the growing season, gardeners can drop off produce every Monday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the church, located at 5010 Little Falls Road in Arlington. Thursday collections will be added beginning in August.
Volunteers divide the donations into family-sized portions before delivering them to food pantries. Audrey Moore, who supervised the May 12 bagging session, said the opening-day contribution was surprisingly large.
Moore expected some of the produce to go to Our Lady Queen of Peace, which she said was serving 900 people each week. Gardeners may also deliver donations directly to other participating locations listed by Friends of Urban Agriculture.
Participants from the nonprofit Woodmont Community Integration Center helped package the food. Phelan Robertson, Christian Madlansacay and Erica Sanchez had volunteered with the effort before, while Eric Aintson and Will Waddell were taking part for the first time.
Sanchez said she volunteers to help people in the community. Waddell had previously completed volunteer work through the National Honor Society.
Woodmont serves people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Community Integration Coordinator Dahlia Camacho said its day program connects participants with museums, field trips and other activities designed to build social connections, communication abilities and life skills.
Arlington gardeners donated 15,000 pounds of produce in 2024. The program’s 2025 goal is to surpass 20,000 pounds.