Partnerships in the Arlington community shape the many ways citizens can give back. Just one of the ways we see this is through the Gardeners Sharing Abundance members, and Andrews Hay staff coming together to support the food bank.
The community garden at Andrews Hay has slowly progressed over the past four years. Employees have helped coordinate with the food bank and Gardeners Sharing Abundance members to better promote and take care of the garden. But it’s not just the workers, it’s the everyday volunteers who put in countless hours to connect with community members, coordinate from planting to harvest, delivering food, and networking with farms in the area.
“It’s hard work, we only work usually two days a week at the community garden Tuesdays and Friday mornings, and for a couple hours at a time. So, people are welcome to just drop in and help anytime” Gardeners Sharing Abundance member Guyce Lafavour said.
Volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated, whether that’s a summer intern, a teacher looking for a fulfilling task over the summer, students who need volunteer hours, or just someone who wants to contribute to their community. If you’re inside the food bank packaging and sorting, or spending your time weeding and planting, the impact that you may or may not notice you are making on others is truly a fulfilling experience.
“ I think that getting involved with agriculture, it’s a helpful skill for you, you know, to help the community out […] I [looked] forward to going there and helping out because I felt, you know, relieved doing that stuff and knowing that I’m helping people” intern Dilen Vigil De Leon (‘26) said.
There are many ways people can help out the food bank whether it’s donating extra vegetables from your home garden, or spending your time weeding at the community garden, all the help is appreciated. The Arlington Food bank is open for drop off 5 days a week 9-12 and open for service Mondays and Wednesdays in the evenings and Friday afternoons. But if you’re not able to make the food bank, the mobile food pantry parks at different locations a few times a week with the hours posted on the website.
“I think everyone should take responsibility for our community and be a part of making sure everyone has food on their table and has access to fresh produce. […] I think it’s the responsible thing to do for our community members” Andrews Hay employee Mary Fuentes said.
Being community minded and connected is a key aspect in strengthening the environment in which we live in. These volunteers are not only helping supply food to be put on the table for so many families but are experiencing the feeling of joy after completing a hard day’s work to benefit not only themselves but the everyday people they see on the streets.
“All these people that come out and, and hand weed, and harvest, and plant, they’re volunteering a lot of time, [and] that there’s members of the community that are willing to come together and do this. It just kind of makes Arlington look better, or like a tighter community, even though it’s getting large, there’s still that small community feel” Andrews Hay owner Andrew Albert said.
