Gaining Ground is proud to partner with a number of community organizations that know their neighbors and needs best. But our ties to the Concord and Carlisle communities run deep. They’re our neighbors. We can develop relationships with people experiencing food insecurity, ensuring they get their food in the way they prefer — through a centrally located pick-up, drive-through option right on the farm or through home delivery when needed. 

We do it through Food for Families, CSA-style distribution program is the only direct-to-client initiative Gaining Ground offers

“Even in a well-resourced community like Concord, many of our neighbors struggle with food insecurity,” says Allison Goodwin, Gaining Ground’s operations director. “With expenses and costs of living continuing to increase, this program meets a crucial need for hundreds of residents.”

Food for Families has grown dramatically through the year. Initially, the program supported 20 homes, but those numbers have increased nearly 10-fold. Goodwin shares that about 115 homes (200 people) receive assistance from the Food for Families program today. About three-quarters of the clients are senior citizens who live on fixed, limited incomes and are often grappling with housing and transportation insecurity. However, the face of hunger in the Concord and Carlisle communities is also changing. 

“Since the pandemic, we have seen an uptick in younger individuals and families facing cost-of-living challenges,” Goodwin explains. 

Other aspects of the program have also shifted—for instance, Food for Families used to operate like a free farmer’s market. 

“Guests could shop and choose which vegetables they wanted, but health and social distancing restrictions during the pandemic forced us to pre-bag the produce and make everyone’s bags the same,” Goodwin says. “We have had overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests about the new pre-bagged system. Most feel it is far more equitable, fair, and convenient than the farmer’s market-style set-up.”

For others, the program also offers a chance to begin growing and harvesting their own food—a true garden-to-table, sustainable experience that helps them feel empowered, dignified, and joyful. 

“This year, I got some leftover seedlings from Gaining Ground farm for various veggies and flowers,” another guest told Gaining Ground. “I planted them all in my garden and harvested some food. I hope next spring, Gaining Ground can again allow extra seedlings to be shared by us. I brought my whole family to volunteer at the farm, and we enjoyed working there.”

The need is growing, and Goodwin hopes the program can expand to support people.

“While we are forced to cap the program at 115 households for now due to limited produce, I know that there are many more households who would like to participate,” Goodwin says. “As our farm expands and continues to increase production, we will strive to provide even more free, nutritious food to a greater number of our neighbors.”

It’s an undertaking that Gaining Ground will take on, but one they cannot do alone. Feeding our neighbors requires a village. 

“Gaining Ground relies entirely on donations and grant funding, and from one year to the next, we have little to no guaranteed income to ensure the continuity of our personnel and operations,” Goodwin shares. “Donations in any amount—great or small—are the single most important way that interested supporters can sustain our work.”

But it’s not the only way. Gaining Ground has more than 3,500 volunteers and will welcome more with open arms.  

“We need helping hands to distribute and deliver produce bags each week during the summer, as well as a few other delivery routes to existing partner organizations each week,” Goodwin says. 

People can start by tapping their fingers and signing up here to lend a hand.