Fifteen Jewish Family Service volunteers and staff put on their sneakers and sunhats to give back to the Monocacy Farm Project on the warm, sunny morning of Aug. 12. They were prepared to do whatever “Farmer Bob” Drake, the director of the organic farm in Bethlehem asked of them. After a brief history and overview of how the project operates, Drake gave them an orientation on how best to test the ripeness and pick each of the different produce, from kale to squash. Then, they got to work. After spending about an hour filling several baskets full of delicious veggies, it was time to haul them over to be rinsed and stored for pick-up later. Some of it would go to JFS as part of the Plant a Row program along with other pantries and shelters across the Lehigh Valley. 

“Jacob, Lilah and I enjoyed learning about the garden and how it helps the JFS food pantry. We learned about how specific vegetables grow, how to pick them and how important it is to provide the recipients with quality produce. We had fun working as a team with the other participants,” said Wendy Born, a volunteer who brought her grandchildren along with her to the service project.