From Our Fields to Our Neighbors
How community outreach is solving food insecurity in Montgomery County
After a wonderful week away with family at the beach, we came home feeling refreshed, grateful, and excited to get back to the farm. There’s something special about stepping back onto familiar soil after hearing the waves all week. Vacations remind us to slow down and appreciate life’s simple gifts, and for us, one of those gifts is growing food that can nourish our community.
One of the first things on our schedule after returning was preparing another produce order for Manna Food Center, one of Montgomery County’s largest community-based food assistance organizations. It’s a partnership we’ve been incredibly grateful for over the years because it allows our harvest to reach families who need it most.
One of the beautiful things about addressing food insecurity is that it truly takes a community. We grow the produce, Manna coordinates the collection and distribution, and an incredible network of food pantries, emergency shelters, volunteers, and community partners places that food directly into the hands of neighbors across Montgomery County. It’s a reminder that meaningful change rarely happens through one person or one organization—it happens when many people each do their part.
Today, an estimated 34% of Montgomery County residents experience food insecurity, and nearly half of the students in our county qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Those numbers remind us why partnerships like this matter so much. Fresh vegetables aren’t simply something to eat—they’re an investment in health, and give hope for families throughout our community.
We’re incredibly thankful that organizations like Manna exist. They make it possible for local farms like ours to focus on growing healthy food while trusting that it will find its way to the tables of people who truly need it. Together, we’re helping build a stronger, healthier community—one harvest at a time.
If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to give back this summer, we encourage you to learn more about Manna Food Center and the incredible work they’re doing throughout Montgomery County. Whether it’s volunteering with them, supporting a local food pantry, or lending a hand here at Evans Homes & Gardens during planting or harvest season, every helping hand makes a difference. (PS- we are always looking for volunteers!)
Thank you for supporting local agriculture. Every visit to our garden center helps us continue growing not only beautiful gardens, but opportunities to care for our neighbors as well.