Home / Education / Students Tackle Hunger: Fresh Food for Families
Students Tackle Hunger: Fresh Food for Families
11 Nov
Summary
- Students volunteer at First Fruits Farm planting and harvesting produce.
- Farm-donated food supports families across Maryland and beyond.
- One in three Marylanders experience food insecurity, reports state food bank.
Students at Notre Dame Prep in Towson are actively addressing food insecurity by volunteering at First Fruits Farm. Since 2010, these students have engaged in planting, harvesting, and packaging fresh produce. This initiative is one of the school's most popular service opportunities, with many students on a waiting list to participate.
Recently, dozens of students packaged thousands of pounds of potatoes, harvested just weeks prior. This produce is destined for local food banks, shelters, and community organizations. The farm's efforts, supported by volunteers, aim to provide dignified meals to families facing hardship. Donations from First Fruits Farm extend beyond Maryland, reaching Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and even Oklahoma.
The program reinforces Notre Dame Prep's mission to educate young women who transform the world. It empowers students to connect classroom learning with community engagement. This work is crucial as food insecurity affects one in three people in Maryland, exacerbated by a 34% rise in grocery prices since the COVID-19 pandemic.
