We’re living in unprecedented times when families are struggling now more than ever. With the anticipated cuts to SNAP and WIC benefits, both due to the federal government shutdown and the proposed new federal budget, including the anticipated astronomical increases to healthcare costs, we anticipate a crisis in our social safety net over the next year or more. Critical sources of federal funding that once helped keep people nourished have disappeared.

Recent federal and medical program cuts have reduced support for local farms and food access initiatives, and many of our neighbors are in survival mode. Urban Tilth knows that there is a growing need for our FREE food box programs, the FREE CSA, and FREE Farm Stand in the immediate future. In order to meet this anticipated need, we are proactively launching the Family to Family Campaign so that families can help each other through this crisis by helping to raise the critical funds needed to feed our neighbors in need.

These programs are especially important to me because I serve as their director and have witnessed firsthand the impact that these programs have on the local community. Not only are we providing nourishing and quality fresh produce for families, but folks are experiencing improvement across the board when it comes to their health and wellbeing; reduced blood pressure, lower A1c, increased mobility, less pain, better sleep, feeling good! If you're like me, and you understand how vital fresh produce is as a staple in your diet, please consider donating and passing that feeling on to someone who deserves it just as much as you and I do.