What we did this summer: Field trips to local farmsAuthor: Diane Howard, Director, ConAgra Hearts and Hands Project with LAMP “We picked eggs today and you can have mine!”  Jason proudly announced to women in the kitchen of the homeless shelter when eggs were needed for the evening meal. Jason is one of the youth ages 10-18 participating in the ConAgra Heart and Hands Project with Lowndes Association of Ministries to People, Inc. (LAMP) of Valdosta, Ga. During June and July these youth traveled to local farms and orchards throughout six counties in South Georgia, not merely to visit, but actually to pick fruit and vegetables as well as eggs. The Project funded by ConAgra Foods Foundation is a three-phase, community-wide health and nutrition program for youth of Valdosta area which provides them with the tools and knowledge to develop and sustain healthy bodies and minds. A typical summer field trip day began at 7:30 AM when the volunteers drove vans throughout the city picking up kids. By 9 AM everyone met at LAMP’s homeless shelter to travel caravan-style to a farm where the grower/producer explained operations and the kids pick fruit or vegetables. Once they ate fresh blueberries, blackberries, peaches, strawberries, corn, peas, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans and peppers, they learned that local, fresh produce tastes better than produce shipped hundreds of miles. Following lunch, they washed, peeled, shelled or cut up their morning’s gathering to carry home to share with families and friends. Some of their harvest was “put up” or canned/frozen for later use. Besides taking summer field trips, the kids planted their own organic urban garden at the homeless shelter and participated in three health and nutrition fairs along with about 2,000 kids. Thanks to ConAgra Foods Foundation’s Community Impact Grant, these kids enjoyed an educational, nutritious and fun-filled summer.   Photo Credit: The above photo is used with the permission of LAMP. In the picture, Jason holds a hen during a field trip to a local Georgia farm.

What we did this summer: Field trips to local farms
Author: Diane Howard, Director, ConAgra Hearts and Hands Project with LAMP

“We picked eggs today and you can have mine!”  Jason proudly announced to women in the kitchen of the homeless shelter when eggs were needed for the evening meal.

Jason is one of the youth ages 10-18 participating in the ConAgra Heart and Hands Project with Lowndes Association of Ministries to People, Inc. (LAMP) of Valdosta, Ga. During June and July these youth traveled to local farms and orchards throughout six counties in South Georgia, not merely to visit, but actually to pick fruit and vegetables as well as eggs.

The Project funded by ConAgra Foods Foundation is a three-phase, community-wide health and nutrition program for youth of Valdosta area which provides them with the tools and knowledge to develop and sustain healthy bodies and minds.

A typical summer field trip day began at 7:30 AM when the volunteers drove vans throughout the city picking up kids. By 9 AM everyone met at LAMP’s homeless shelter to travel caravan-style to a farm where the grower/producer explained operations and the kids pick fruit or vegetables. Once they ate fresh blueberries, blackberries, peaches, strawberries, corn, peas, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans and peppers, they learned that local, fresh produce tastes better than produce shipped hundreds of miles. Following lunch, they washed, peeled, shelled or cut up their morning’s gathering to carry home to share with families and friends. Some of their harvest was “put up” or canned/frozen for later use.

Besides taking summer field trips, the kids planted their own organic urban garden at the homeless shelter and participated in three health and nutrition fairs along with about 2,000 kids. Thanks to ConAgra Foods Foundation’s Community Impact Grant, these kids enjoyed an educational, nutritious and fun-filled summer.  

Photo Credit: The above photo is used with the permission of LAMP. In the picture, Jason holds a hen during a field trip to a local Georgia farm.

Posted 1 year ago
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