Nonprofit launches payas- you-can farmstand

CHRISTY AVERY

CHRISTY. AVERY@ NEWSANDTRIBUNE. COM

NEW ALBANY — A New Albany nonprofit is working to expand food access through a new pay-as-you-can farmstand.

Let Us Learn, Inc. announced Friday it has opened two farmstands offering fresh food from local farmers and vendors, meant to serve families in a time of growing need as federal and state funding cuts

See FARMSTAND on A3

Continued from A1

restrict access to meals for vulnerable populations. The stands are held on the second Sunday of each month from 2-4 p.m., and the last Monday of each month from 4-5:30 p.m.

“We really do believe that we are really addressing some of those factors that folks don’t think about,” said Gina Brown, founder and executive director. “Those folks that don’t have a lot of assets, they don’t have a high income, the folks that are working two jobs. Everything is more expensive, so we believe we’re really helping to reach across those barriers and we believe in building community.”

Operating from the greenhouse at New Albany High School, the stand is part of Let Us Learn’s Youth Harvest Project, connecting students directly to community food access. The effort allows people to pay what they can for a bag filled with food purchased directly from local farmers and producers, an idea Brown said is intended to expand access to seasonal food while supporting the local economy.

Recent partners include Unvarnished Farm, offering eggs and bread; a local backyard chicken farmer providing eggs; Harriet House Cottage Bakery, with bread; and Summer Solstice Farms and Boxcar Acres, bringing produce to the stand.

The two farmstands held so far have generated a wealth of response, Brown said, to the point where supplies were emptied during the most recent last Monday. One hundred and eighty-seven people filled out the interest form, and food ran out quickly even on the 32-degree day.

“It kind of just blew up, and in a good way,” Brown said. “Everyone was really kind and generous, and they donated so much that we’re able to order a little bit extra for this next one and really be prepared for it.”

That second farmstand served 124 individuals from 53 households, which is more than double from the 55 individuals helped by the first.

Brown said Let Us Learn, which became an official nonprofit in December 2016, was born out of a recognition of food insecurity and a desire to help students learn the value of growing their own food. The organization began as school gardens at Fairmont Elementary and S. Ellen Jones Elementary, but Let Us Learn now has a presence in all Title I schools in Floyd County except middle schools.

“The kids know that what they’re doing is important, and it’s not just like we’re out there playing in the dirt,” she said. “They are growing food that’s going to be in the belly of somebody, whether that’s their own family or a neighbor or a community member.”

The organization expanded dur ing the COVID-19 pandemic, during which they could not be in schools but wanted to continue finding ways to help feed people.

They created at-home garden kits, garden visits and cooking classes — but as the cost of those programs rose, and funding reductions created gaps in food access from resources like Meals on Wheels, Let Us Learn realized it needed to expand its partnerships.

The organization recently joined with New Albany Neighbor Network and LifeSpan Resources to increase access to the farmstand and bring bags to older and homebound adults. Let Us Learn has committed to providing up to 20 farmstand bags per month to LifeSpan, and the New Albany Neighbor Network is providing transportation for individuals without a way to get to the stand.

The collaboration has proven mutually beneficial not just for those in need, but for the organizations themselves, said Melissa Richardson, development director at LifeSpan.

“We are now facing financial constraints due to the cuts that started affecting us about a year ago,” she said. “That is now causing a trickle-down effect with our home-delivered meals. The cost of that is about $24,000 a month to keep our 140 clients that we have with at least seven meals a week.”

She said LifeSpan has been searching for creative ways to cut back and supplement by partnering with other organizations to fill the gaps. While LifeSpan typically offers clients at least one meal per day, that number may have to be reduced to five, she said, but her team is prioritizing offering as many healthy meals as possible.

“Let Us Learn was great. They jumped right in and said ‘Absolutely, we’re willing to help,’” Richardson said. “They are providing us with 20 bags a month of fresh produce and fruit and vegetables.”

Bags are donated to LifeSpan twice a month, Richardson said, with the first round taking place earlier this week. LifeSpan case managers and staff deliver the bags to clients at their homes, offering them nutritious options even if they can’t get out to purchase groceries.

“Some people have other sources of food that it’s not that big of a deal, but to some people, that may be really the only good meal they get every day,” she said.

Tyra Curran, CEO and founder of New Albany Neighbor Network, said her group began as a collective of neighbors and community members in October who wanted to help people facing food insecurity. From October to January, they served 25 to 30 families every Sunday, bringing homemade meals, non-perishables and hygiene items to a total of 140 households.

A need for funding and personal hardships meant the network is taking a break for the upcoming summer, but Curran said Let Us Learn gave them an opportunity to stay active in the community by driving individuals to and from the farmstand for those without reliable transportation.

Curran said she and Brown were aware of each other’s work, and Brown reached out to help support the network.

“We felt that she would be a great mentor for me and that I could learn a lot from her and her organization, and we quickly realized there is a point that each of our organizations meet,” she said. “She was working a lot with the kids and the schools. I’m working with the families and the parents, and we felt that where we meet, I could really help a lot of low-income families access the fresh produce and connections she has with the farmers.”

People can sign up for transportation through the New Albany Neighbor Network Farmstand Sign-Up Form, located at https:// tinyurl.com/43kndaes. To receive transportation through the network, those interested must sign up by 11:59 p.m. on the Thursday before each stand.

Brown said Let Us Learn received a generous grant to help pay farmers fair prices for their goods. After operating so far on a donation model, stands are the first time Let Us Learn has been able to order food from and pay farmers.

“I feel like we’re starting to hopefully be able to help folks get staples,” she said.

As Let Us Learn heads into its 10th year, Brown wants her organization to continue fostering a sense of belonging and support for those in need. She estimated Let Us Learn has provided more than 50,000 pounds of food over its lifetime, and hopes to grow even more going forward.

“We may not last until our 11th year. That’s always a possibility,” she said. “But we are still around because of our community, and I think because we show up, we say what we’re going to do, and we are respectful and give everyone dignity, we talk to folks and get to know them. That’s part of that building community.”

She encourages people to donate and volunteer at Let Us Learn or other local food assistance groups.

“I would love for folks to get involved, and there’s all kinds of wonderful organizations that are helping their neighbors be just a little bit better, a little bit healthier.”

Let Us Learn is offering a pay-as-you-can farmstand.

Photo courtesy of Let Us Learn