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Delivery Program

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HIGHLAND PARK SENIOR PRODUCE DELIVERY PROGRAM

In 2020, as we were asked to physically isolate ourselves from each other and harmful feelings of disconnection and loneliness threatened so many people, the farm shouted louder than ever that connection is the natural way of being, and that connection can be found everywhere, especially when we turn our attention to working with the earth. Early that spring we heard from neighborhood elders how hard it had become for them to safely get groceries, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. At the same time, neighborhood teenagers wandered onto the land each day, seeking opportunities to engage and support their community.  

In partnership with Hawthorne Youth and Community Center (HYCC), the teens helped to launch a COVID-safe produce and grocery gift card delivery program for Highland Park seniors living near the farm. We received so much positive feedback in 2020 about the impacts of the program, we decided to continue this program in 2021 and beyond. Thousands of pounds of food grown on less than an acre made their way into brown paper bags and into dozens of kitchens throughout summer and into fall.

Every week, during our grocery runs, several of the seniors would be sitting in their windows to make sure they didn’t miss an opportunity to thank the teen dropping off their delivery. We got phone calls asking, “What in the world is this herb you sent me?” and neighbors shared recipes using the produce we had dropped at their doors. The network of connections built through this program was truly remarkable. Despite the pandemic, the farm helped to remedy threats of isolation and disconnection and nourished the bodies and souls of our neighbors in ways we couldn’t have imagined.

Additionally, as part of “Grow it, Cook it, Share it,” youth who often live a stone’s throw from the farm learn hands-on and conceptual components of sustainable agriculture (at the farm) and cooking and nutrition (though Take Back the Kitchen). The teens participate in all aspects of farm work; planting, crop care and maintenance, harvesting and cooking, and engaging in discussions of food systems, nutrition, and building community through food. The summer ambassadors typically spend multiple days a week on the farm and become so integrated in the farm that by the end of the program they are leading tours and activities for visiting child, teen, and adult groups. Over a thousand people each year have been able to enjoy the fresh air, vibrant colors, nutritious food and good company of new and old friends on the farm.

Are you or someone you know a senior living in the Highland Park area? Please contact us to be added to our list.

About

Haley House uses food with purpose and the power of community to break down barriers between people, empower individuals, and strengthen neighborhoods. We believe in radical solutions: solving problems at their root by challenging attitudes that perpetuate suffering and building alternative models.

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Information

Soup Kitchen, Live-In Community, Administrative Offices

23 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

volunteer inquiries:
volunteer@haleyhouse.org

general inquiries: info@haleyhouse.org

media inquiries: media@haleyhouse.org

Links

Sample language to share with your attorney:

“I bequeath to Haley House, 23 Dartmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, [the sum of __________ Dollars ($____)] [ _______ % of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate], to be used for its general charitable purposes.”

Sample language to share with your attorney:

“I bequeath to Haley House, 23 Dartmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, [the sum of __________ Dollars ($____)] [ _______ % of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate], to be used for its general charitable purposes.”