There are a number of ways that you can give back to the community by gardening, such as donating to local hunger relief organizations.
Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger relief organization and is our primary nonprofit partner to address hunger. The Feeding America network supplies 61,000 charitable agencies that distribute food directly to families through local food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, Kids Cafes, and community kitchens.
Some gardens donate produce with the assistance of the Plant A Row program — a national program that encourages gardeners to plant an extra row for the hungry in their communities. Others choose to donate a percentage of their garden harvest.
Launched in 1995, Plant A Row (PAR) is a public service program that encourages gardeners to plant an extra row of produce each year and donate their surplus to local food banks, soup kitchens and service organizations to help feed America’s hungry. Since it's inception, people involved in plant a row for the hungry have donated They have donated millions of pounds of fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit. An initiative of the Gardens Writers Association and the GWA Foundation, PAR provides focus, training, direction and support to volunteer committees that promote gardening at the local level. They also assist in coordinating the local food collection systems and monitoring the volume of donations being provided to food agencies.
Since 1995, over 20 million pounds of produce providing over 80 million meals have been donated by American gardeners.