America’s Community Gardens Step Up Fight to End Food Insecurity With Burpee Donation of 11 Million Vegetable Seeds
Unprecedented Gift Will Support Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month in September
Burpee Gardening
Sep 02, 2021
Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, has partnered for the first time with Burpee Gardening to help spur action to end food insecurity in America. The 145-year-old Pennsylvania-based seed and plant company, which championed the successful “Victory Gardens” program during World Wars I and II, will donate some 11 million vegetable seeds to Feeding America-affiliated community gardens during September’s Hunger Action Month. The donation will ultimately reap fresh produce for distribution to local food banks.
With an estimated one in eight, or 42 million Americans, currently experiencing food insecurity, the seed donation comes at a time when many are forced to choose between basic needs like electricity, childcare, or medicine and feeding their families. Burpee endorses the hunger organization’s credo that “FOOD shouldn’t be an IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.”
“The pandemic has thrust millions more Americans into a situation where a daily meal is not a given,” noted George Ball, chairman, Burpee Gardening. “We view the current challenges as no less significant than those that led to the creation of Victory Gardens during the two world wars when government food rationing along with labor and transportation shortages made home-grown fruits and vegetables a vital necessity and ultimately a source of civic pride. Burpee is proud to once again step up to help drive this critically important initiative from Feeding America.”
As part of its role in Hunger Action Month and on Hunger Awareness Day September 17, Burpee Gardening will give 500-1000 vegetable seed packets to community gardens that help support Feeding America partner organizations. Packets include multi-colored carrots, “Buttercrunch” lettuce, summer squash, string beans, “Fourth of July” tomatoes, snow peas, radishes, jalapeno peppers, and more. Since 1876, Burpee’s horticulturalists have taken pride in innovating countless varieties of vegetables. For the Feeding America selection, the company promises successful harvests in every growth zone.
“Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger,” said Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. “As the pandemic continues to impact so many of our neighbors, we commend Burpee for their partnership and unique commitment to helping people put food on the table.”
In a 21st century update to its efforts enabling Victory Gardens, Burpee Gardening will use its popular Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels to spread the word about Hunger Action Month beginning on September 1. Comments, shares, and likes of a series of Burpee/Feeding America posts during the month will trigger donations from the company to community gardens associated with Feeding America’s food bank network.
