Community Corner

Area Non-Profits Formalize 'Farm to Family' Merger

The formal merger of Avon-based Gifts of Love and Community Farm of Simsbury involves a true 'Farm to Family' initiative. 

After years of collaboration, the social services organization and farm officially merged as "Farm to Family" earlier this month. While each will keep their own names and identities under that umbrella, the merger allows an already established collaboration to grow, creates efficiencies and opens the door for additional possibilities, said Executive Director Diana Goode. 

While there are practical matters such as the food Gifts of Love receives for its food pantry and the volunteer, payroll and other resources it can utilize for the farm, Goode has another lofty goal — doing more to help struggling people and families get back on track.  

"We really want to help people become more self sufficient," Goode said. 

In some cases that may be take on a literal meaning. Already the farm has an incubator farmer program and sessions that teach school children about plants and food. The organization is already working on involving more schools and others in that educational process.  
 
For many others Farm to Table may be more of one aspect or even just a metaphor for self-sufficiency. Goode would like for the organization to develop case plans for its clients and help them get back on their feet, similar to the Freshplace program in Hartford. 

Those who use the food pantry and other services of Gifts of Love face a wide array of situations, Goode said. Some clients have recently lost a job, while others have struggled for much longer. As such, such an initiative would involve individualized attention, she said.  

"One plan does not fit all," she said. 

Goode is excited to work on this and other initiatives. 

Gifts of Love serves 350 families per month, most of who use the food pantry. In 2012, Community Farm of Simsbury donated more than 14,000 pounds of certified organic through Simsbury Social Services, Gifts of Love, Hartford Food System, Foodshare, and Billing Forge Community Works, according to the Community Farm web site.

Learn more about the services 

Gifts of Love: 
http://giftsoflovect.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gifts-of-Love-CT/78410416157


Community Farm of Simsbury: 
http://www.communityfarmofsimsbury.org/

https://www.facebook.com/communityfarmofsimsbury

https://twitter.com/communityfarmSI

 


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