AmpleHarvest.org Signs 6,000th Food Pantry

Newfoundland, NJ, June 04, 2013 --(PR.com)-- AmpleHarvest.org is pleased to announce that the 6,000th food pantry, Sevier County Food Ministries in Sevierville TN, has joined AmpleHarvest.org.

Created by CNN Hero Gary Oppenheimer, AmpleHarvest.org is a four year old one-of-a-kind supply side channel for America’s food pantries that uses technology to link millions of home and community gardeners nationwide who have harvested excess garden produce to a nearby food pantry.

These food pantries are helping to feed the nearly 1 in 6 Americans (including more than 1 out of every 4 children under six years old) who are food insecure – lacking access to an adequate supply of food or at real risk of it. This “cloud solution for hunger” enables growers to share their excess food with neighborhood food pantries desperate for it.

According to Gary Oppenheimer, every additional food pantry that joins AmpleHarvest.org creates new opportunities for nearby growers to share their bounty instead of letting it rot in garden. “Historically, gardeners did not know that they could donate the food nor where to donate it, and food pantries across America had no idea that there was fresh food already in the community that could help their clients. Furthermore, food pantries have traditionally been reluctant to accept fresh food because of the lack of storage and refrigeration. AmpleHarvest.org’s innovative solution not only bridges the food to the need within the community but also eliminates the storage and refrigeration concerns.”

“The immediate impact of educating, encouraging and enabling growers to donate the food is that food waste is eliminated, the environment is improved and the nutritional needs of the community are met while the long term impact is community building and a reduction in food related illnesses such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension as freshly harvested food becomes available to the pantry clients – often for the first time,” said Oppenheimer.

According to Jim Davis, director of Sevier County Food Ministries, “Connecting with growers who have excess produce available to donate is important and Sevier County Food Ministries is trying to maximize the opportunities to offer fresh fruits and vegetables. AmpleHarvest.org is the perfect organization to help farmers and gardeners locate a local food pantry and share the wealth from their fields. Our neighbors truly appreciate fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other produce, and we pray for a bountiful summer. It's exciting to know AmpleHarvest.org will help is provide for the hungry in East Tennessee."

“Each time we register a new food pantry on AmpleHarvest.org, we know it is a testament to communities across the nation coming together to address food insecurity and malnutrition,” noted Leanne Mazurick, food pantry outreach coordinator for AmpleHarvest.org. “When a pantry registers on AmpleHarvest.org, it gives them an opportunity to become 'visible' to local growers and gardeners who have an abundance to share with those in need. As we reach this milestone, it is gratifying to witness food pantries and gardeners building connections to alleviate hunger in their communities.”

AmpleHarvest.org, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization which diminishes malnutrition, hunger and food waste in America by educating, encouraging and empowering growers to easily find a nearby food pantry eager to receive the excess garden bounty. For more information on the campaign, visit www.AmpleHarvest.org/press or call AMPLE-6-9880 (267-536-9880).

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