More than 100 children from the Port Washington Children’s Center got a chance to get their hands dirty on Monday for a good cause.
The children were taking part in the Plant A Row for the Hungry campaign in which they planted their own vegetable pots to help kick off the 2016 growing season.
“The beauty of this is here you are at the Port Washington Children’s Center and this is being introduced to these wonderful young boys and girls who are participating in the program,” North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said outside the Children’s Center at 232 Main St. “They are planting the vegetables, they are planting the fruits, and they have the opportunity to see them when the fruits of their labor, but to understand the importance of giving to those who are in need so it’s a program that takes care of not only the needs of people but i think to start planting those seeds to take care of generations to come. It’s a wonderful program and one that we’re very proud to support and be a part of.”
Town of North Hempstead officials joined Plant a Row in Port Washington chief vegetable garden executive Marvin Makofsky and members of The Art Guild of Port Washington in presenting a super sized display that contained more than 20 planter pots.
“We were approached by Marvin last year to work on painting some pots and a number of members got together and work on several different designs,” Art Guild Co-President Shelley Holtzman said. “This year he asked us to work on this special project, which is building this platform, designing it and painting the platform which too a lot of work.”
Members of The Art Guild of Port Washington designed and painted the display, according to the organization’s website,
Holtzman said the Art Guild — a nonprofit organization providing encouragement, education and a forum for the appreciation of the visual arts — chose colors and a theme for the display based on the idea that it was going towards the Children’s Center.
“We went with the primary colors for the children’s center and we wanted to make it fun and bright and happy,” she said.
This year marks the Children’s Center’s fourth year in participating in Plant A Row, which is a national program that aims to delivery fresh produce to the needy in communities throughout the country, according to Plant a Row’s website.
Makofsky said he started the program in 2010 to encourage homeowners and gardeners to contribute a portion of what they grow for distribution to families that can’t afford the high cost of vegetables.
“I have lived with my family in Port Washington for over 30 years and have been an avid gardener of flower and vegetables,” Makofsky said. “My family has been involved in social action activities for decades. I have been aware of the many food drives that are an active part of our community most of the food collected is of the non-perishable variety, that while worthwhile does not contribute to a great deal of nutritional value.”
Makofsky said all the vegetables planted at the event will go home with the children.
Over the past three years more than 10,000 pounds of produce were delivered to those in need under this program, he said.
“From day one, the Port community has been inspiring in the way it has responded, ” Makofsky said.
He said a team of more than 15 people joined the program to deliver the food around the community.
Plant A Row in Port Washington has also teamed up with churches and synagogues.
“Many people who have participated in our program have been invited to engage with the children and become volunteers for future events,” Makofsky said. “Our objective is to inspire everyone in the community to get involved in our program that has a dramatic need to overcome a problem that is almost an epidemic in our country. Religious leaders and elected officials have been invited to attend. Many have responded with great enthusiasm.”
Plant a Row officials they have already engaged over 950 local children.
Plant a Row officials said they expect that the children will use this knowledge to educate their families and continue donating throughout their lives.
“Our goal is to reach the entire communities children and their families to appreciate home grown vegetables as well as to take advantage of the opportunity to be generous to families in need that can not afford the prices of our store purchased foo,” Makofsky said.
Business owners who want to get involved in Plant a Row’s program by purchasing a painted pot can order one at Bayles Garden Center, located at 88 S. Bayles Ave. in Port Washington for $90. Each pot comes with soil and vegetable seedlings and is fully decorated by Port Washington artists.
