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Letter from the Director 2

Get Involved with 2Project Produce

Project Produce 3Sprouts Memories of Wife for Local Veteran

Over 1,500 members of the Stillwater community attended

the Project Produce Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Stillwater community showed tremendous support for the local nonprofit and helped exceed the goal of raising $5,000. Project Produce is overjoyed to announce that the farmers market raised $8,852. Because of the Stillwater community’s support, Project Produce is able to help nursing homes and public schools build produce gardens. Project Produce is a nonprofit organization that helps local public schools and nursing homes battle state budget cuts by showing them a way they can reduce their food expenses. Project Produce volunteers teach students and nursing home residents how to plant, cultivate and harvest their own vegetables to use in meals prepared for them. Teaching them how to grow their own vegetables gives them a sense of purpose and educates them on basic horticulture practices. John Smith, Project Produce volunteer, was thrilled to see the

Stillwater community’s support at the Project Produce Farmers Market. “My father is currently a resident in a Stillwater nursing home,” Smith said. “My daughter is a student at Stillwater High School. It means so much to me that this many members of the Stillwater community would come to support Project Produce, local students and elders.” The Project Produce Farmers

Market gave nursing home residents and public school students participating in the program the opportunity to sell their produce to the Stillwater community. They displayed their produce

on tables and sold it to Stillwater residents who enjoy fresh, homegrown vegetables. Susie James, sophomore at Stillwater High School and Project Produce participant, could not believe the results of the farmers market. “Stillwater residents bought every single vegetable we had to sell,” James said. “No words can express how thankful I am to be a part of this generous community.”

PROJECT PRODUCE FARMERS MARKET EXCEEDS FUNDRAISING GOAL

Reap The BenefitsProject Produce, Volume 1, Issue 1, Fall 2016

Project Produce

One year ago, my

grandparents had just moved into a nursing home and complained about missing their garden at home. My niece had just started high school and complained about the lights being off during the day so the school could save money on electricity.

One year ago, Project Produce came to life. I have been told my entire life that I needed to do something that I love and love whatever I do. I had no idea I would be able to combine my love for agriculture, my grandparents and my niece and turn it into something like Project Produce. In just one year, Project Produce helped over 400 people in three public schools and five nursing homes in Stillwater, Oklahoma. We raised almost $9,000 through the first Project Produce Farmers Market and still receive donations from generous Stillwater residents and businesses.

In accordance with our mission, our clients have seen an average decrease in food expenses of 19.5 percent. The money that was once used for food can now be used for other necessities in public schools and nursing homes. This next year, we are planning to expand Project Produce to local businesses, churches or surrounding cities. However, none of this would be possible without the generous donations from the Stillwater community and our volunteers. Our 120 volunteers have spent over 1,400 hours working with Project Produce clients in the last year. The Stillwater community has donated over 5,000 pounds of fertilizer, 1,500 flower pots and numerous gardening tools for Project Produce participants to use. I am forever grateful for the overwhelming support of the people around us. On behalf of everyone at Project Produce and our participants, thank you for your continued support and donations.

Sincerely,

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Project Produce would not be where it is today without its generous volunteers and supporters.

Currently, there are 120 volunteers who are working with Project Produce clients. However, Project Produce is always looking to the community of Stillwater to provide soil, flower pots, fertilizer and volunteers to help our local nursing homes and public schools. Project Produce volunteers have the opportunity to interact with local nursing home residents and public school students on a weekly basis. They receive training from Project Produce leaders on essential horticulture practices so

they can educate clients. Jobs for volunteers include donation monitoring and organization, teaching basic horticulture

practices, harvesting produce, fundraising or working at the Project Produce Farmers Market. Because of the Project Produce volunteers, this local nonprofit helps residents of Stillwater reap the benefits of growing their own produce by providing the soil and letting youth and elders plant the seed. For more information on

how to donate or volunteer, contact 555-555-5555 or visit www.projectproduce.org.

GET INVOLVED WITH PROJECT PRODUCE

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Project Produce

Rory GilmoreExecutive Editorrory.gilmore@projectproduce.orgReap The Benefits is published every three months.

He is the father of five children, grandfather to 23 grandchildren, a Vietnam War veteran and the

widower of a wife who always loved her garden. Johnny Chapman is an 85-year-old resident of Brookdale Stillwater, a retirement community for local seniors. Chapman’s children say the loss of their mother, Mary Chapman, was hardest on their father, but he finds comfort in the gardens started by Project Produce, a Stillwater nonprofit that teaches students and nursing home residents how to grow their own vegetable gardens. “My Mary loved being in her garden,” Chapman said. “It was a different time back then because we didn’t have any money. She cooked everything she grew for our family.” Nursing homes and schools in Oklahoma are in the same situation the Chapmans were in 50 years ago. With recent budget cuts of $64 million to nursing homes and $40 million to public schools, nursing home owners and school officials are forced to cut their expenses to continue operating, according to the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Project Produce helps nursing homes and schools cut food costs by allowing them to keep everything students or residents grow in their gardens. Because these vegetables will be used in the meals prepared for them, residents and students provide the seeds to plant and Project Produce contributes the education, flower pots and soil. Chapman and his friends at Brookdale Stillwater think Project Produce has more to offer than helping the nursing home cut food costs. “They’ve had to get rid of fun programs we enjoy because of the budget cuts,” Chapman said. “Project Produce gives us something to look forward to during the day. For some, this is the only thing they

have to look forward to.” Christine Walker, former Atwoods employee and current Project Produce volunteer, has worked with Chapman in Brookdale Stillwater’s garden “Johnny Chapman has impacted me more than he will ever know,” Walker said. “We have traded stories, recipes for our vegetables and a lot of laughter. Being a Project Produce volunteer only takes one or two hours a week, and I have made some of the most amazing memories through it.” Regina Morrison, a member of the culinary staff at Brookdale Stillwater, believes Project Produce

also helps with the residents’ nutrition. “Most people don’t like to eat their vegetables, and that doesn’t change when you are as old as our residents,” Morrison said. “But when they are growing their own vegetables, they are excited for us to cook them. They almost never have anything left on their plates.” When asked how Project Produce has helped him, tears formed in Chapman’s eyes.

“Project Produce has given me a reason to get up in the morning,” Chapman said. “I know my wife would have loved this organization. I’m doing this for her.”

“Project Produce gives us something to look forward to during the

day. For some, this is the only thing they have to

look forward to.”

PROJECT PRODUCE SPROUTS MEMORIES OF WIFE FOR LOCAL VETERAN

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