Sowing Seeds of Thanks for Volunteers, Donors and Others

by the Food Moxie Staff and Members of the Executive Board

608 Carpenter Lane 215-843-8289 foodmoxie.org

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS!

608 Carpenter Lane 215-843-8289 foodmoxie.org

Executive Director

Executive Director

KIMBERLY FLEISHER kim@foodmoxie.org

JILL FINK jill@foodmoxie.org

Development Director

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

ALLISON BUDSCHALOW allison@foodmoxie.org and cleaning up and finishing garden beds. The students also designed seed packets filled with native flowers to give to seniors from Saul and Martin Luther King High as graduation gifts. We thank Alyson and the Penn Charter students for their service!

The Welcome signs of spring in bloom hold the promise of great things to come at Food Moxie. Dorene Reggiani, our program manager, and Antoine Fowler, our lead educator and grower, know there’s no time to waste. They are digging in, planting the green beans, collards, herbs and more that will grow into a bountiful outdoor classroom for hundreds of students who will experience the wonder and deep satisfaction of growing and harvesting their own food. As the strawberries turn a brilliant red and myriad white blossoms emerge on the raspberry bushes, Dorene is excited and hopeful for a more plentiful berry harvest this year.

In addition, we want to thank a few others who have been improving our growing spaces. New Market Builders donated their time to build a new pergola at Saul, and Juawon Wyndham and Jose Ferran of Hunting Park Green maintained and beautifed the programming spaces at Saul and MLK.

Program Director

ANDREA DOWNIE andrea@foodmoxie.org

DORENE REGIANNI dorene@foodmoxie.org

Office Manager

LEAD GROWERS/EDUCATORS

JULIA LEMYRE info@foodmoxie.org

ELAINE S. HOLTON elaine@foodmoxie.org

Youth Education Coordinator

MELISSA POWELL melissa@foodmoxie.org

Farm & Garden Manager

BRANDON RITTER brandon@foodmoxie.org

AINHOA WOODLEY ainhoa@foodmoxie.org

ANTOINE FOWLER antoine@foodmoxie.org

Of course, we could not do this invaluable work alone; food education and access are a collective endeavor for us. Through the support and care of our volunteers, neighbors, partners and donors, we serve over 1,000 Philadelphians annually. This month, we want to recognize a few of the partners who have helped make our work possible this year.

Our programming largely relies on donor support. This spring, we were selected to receive a generous gift from Bird in Hand Consignment Shop, a valuable local business in Chestnut Hill staffed entirely by volunteers. Like Food Moxie, Bird in Hand is a nonprofit organization. Their shoppers can feel great about the vintage or antique purchases they make there because all proceeds are donated to worthwhile causes.

We are truly grateful to our friends at Bird in Hand for choosing us as one of those causes and for recognizing and supporting our programs. The work that they do is a wonderful example of how mutually beneficial relationships can support and uplift our communities.

We also want to recognize Alyson Goodson and the students from William Penn Charter School for their continued support of the garden at Saul High School. On May 5, students came out for their Day of Engagement and helped with moving soil

Finally, we’d like to thank Mr. Smith, the Natural Resource Management CTE Instructor, for his wonderful partnership with Food Moxie over the years. Our connection and collaboration with the schools we support are enriched through committed staff like him. Even in our time of restructuring, he and the students at Saul continue to care for our growing spaces. We are grateful for his shared concern and interest in our land and for our youth.

Do you dig what we do? Consider donating at www.foodmoxie.org. Do you have questions or are interested in supporting our work? Get in touch with us at info@foodmoxie.org.