Help us feed our community, Ames!

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Launched in 1995, Plant A Row is a national public service program of Garden Communicators International (formerly the Garden Writers Association of America). Since 1995, over 20 million pounds of produce providing over 80 million meals have been donated by American gardeners. All of this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape - just people helping people. For more information on the national program click here.

Story County PAR in Ames Iowa began in 2004, and volunteers have been fighting hunger in Central Iowa by collecting and distributing over 89,000 pounds (49.3 tons!) of fresh garden produce to agencies in the Story County area. We distribute produce to MICA Food Pantry, Primary Health Care, Salvation Army, Food At First and Bethesda Food Pantry. We have also contributed to to Ames Community School Food Service for the Grab-and-Go meals they prepare for families to pick up.

There are multiple ways to get involved:

• Donate produce from a home garden! Drop off your garden donations at Reiman Gardens's Maintenance Building on Mondays from 7:30-9:00 AM.
• Help collect, weigh, and distribute produce to our five local agencies in Ames! Select a PAR shift on Better Impact on Mondays from 7:30-9:30 AM. You will help sort and weigh the produce, as well as deliver produce to our agencies.
• Collect left over produce from vendors at the Ames Main Street Farmers Market! Do you love the Farmer's Market? Do you care about food insecurity in Ames? Our volunteers visit with vendors at the Farmer's Market to collect donations of any unwanted produce and bring it back to Reiman Gardens.