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Drake University Agricultural Law Center and the Greater Des Moines Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL) Campaign, a project of Drake University, will be assisting with efforts to put more fresh fruits and vegetables on the plates of Iowa families in need through two upcoming events: The Plant a Mile Volunteer Day, on Thursday, Aug. 7, and with Meals From the Market on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 7, BFBL will host a Plant a Mile Volunteer Day at the Rinehart Family Farm in Boone, Iowa. Volunteers will be picking produce for the Plant a Mile project. The Plant a Mile project provides fresh fruits and vegetables to local families through the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Network. Through collaboration with local farmers, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, private businesses, faith-based groups, and volunteers, the Plant a Mile project has been able to put fresh produce on the shelves of Central Iowa food pantries.
Plant a Mile is organized by Greater Des Moines Buy Fresh Buy Local and made possible with help from sponsors: Campbell’s Nutrition, Cultivating Compassion: The Dr. Richard Deming Foundation, Devour Des Moines, HoQ Restaurant, Iowa Heartland Resource Conservation and Development, Kitchen Collage of Des Moines, and the Downtown Farmers’ Market.
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Saturday, Aug. 9, Drake Agricultural Law Center and BFBL will be at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market Meals from the Market Booth to increase awareness about locally grown produce from Iowa. BFBL will be sampling locally grown peppers, handing out BFBL stickers, and inviting people to take the pledge to Buy Fresh Buy Local at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. The activities will take place at the Downtown Farmers’ Market Meals from the Market Booth (on 2nd Ave. and Court Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Drake Agricultural Law Center will also be partaking in a public service activity, Meals From the Market, which is a project of the Downtown Farmers’ Market sponsored by Great Western Bank. Drake faculty, staff and students will partake in this service learning opportunity to collect produce and other food items from vendors and the community.
Vendors and patrons of the Market are invited to participate in Meals From the Market, now in its sixth year. Food and monetary donations are accepted at the booth during the market, and are all tax deductible. We encourage those wanting to donate to purchase fresh produce from the Market and bring the produce or any baked, canned, or prepared food to the booth, to be given to shelters and food pantries throughout the Des Moines area.
We are thankful for all the support, donations, and contributions that have been made to the Plant a Mile project and the DMARC food pantry network.
For more information on these events or to volunteer, please contact us at (515) 271-4956 or bfbl@drake.edu.
Look for upcoming events from the Drake Agricultural Law Center and BFBL including volunteer days on Sept. 6 and Oct. 4 with Meals From the Market.