Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) visited the Port Washington Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to present a $50,000 grant to Port Washington-based Plant a Row for the Hungry in support of its hunger-fighting mission. The Legislature voted unanimously on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in favor of releasing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding in support of the 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization.
Founded in 2010 by longtime resident Marvin Makofsky, Plant a Row seeks to “mobilize the Port Washington community to grow and distribute locally grown produce to our food-insecure families and impact climate change as it relates to growing food.” Since its inception, the organization has delivered more than 62,000 pounds of produce to food pantries in support of hundreds of needy Port Washington residents, and Plant A Row’s Outreach program has worked with various local organizations to teach children and families how to grow their own vegetables and share with those in need.
Even in the cold of winter, Plant A Row is hard at work in its philanthropic agricultural mission. Plant A Row has partnered with the Nicholas Center, which serves as training and employment for young adults who are on the Autism spectrum, for over 10 years. Plant A Row works with these adults at the Center’s greenhouse to grow starter plants for the spring and summer and as well as growing cool weather vegetables through the winter. They are also in their second year of growing raspberries behind the greenhouse and expect to harvest this coming season.
Makofsky said he plans to apply the ARPA funding toward expanding Plant A Row’s year-round growing initiatives.
“The funding Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton secured will support our efforts to build the infrastructure for ambitious programs that make a difference,” Makofsky said. “The idea is to grow year-round so that people who cannot afford fresh vegetables have access to more than just nonperishable super-processed foods. We want to be feeding everyone - all of the residents and especially the children - brain food, and growing it locally and harvesting it virtually within 24 hours of the time they get to eat it and cook it makes a world of difference.”
“Plant a Row is a beacon of light in our world and a shining example of how each of us can do our part to make a big difference in our community,” Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I am thrilled that we were able to secure these ARPA funds in support of their outstanding mission, and I can’t wait to see how they will apply these resources toward touching even more lives throughout our region.”
Visit https://www.plantarowforthehungry.org/ to learn more about getting involved in Plant a Row for the Hungry.