A Message To Our Treasured Volunteer Community


Volunteers have been at the heart of Gaining Ground from our humble beginnings in 1994 all the way through to last year’s record-breaking harvest.   We have worked together as a community to plant, grow, and distribute tens of thousands of pounds of produce each year for our food-insecure neighbors. 

Like organizations worldwide, Gaining Ground temporarily suspended its volunteer program in mid-March of this year in the interest of health and safety.  Since then, we have consistently been working on plans to determine when, if, and how we could safely re-open the volunteer program for the 2020 growing season.  After evaluating numerous scenarios, we have determined that our volunteer program is not likely to re-open this year.  This decision was not easy and does not come lightly.  We know how disappointing this news will be to our loyal volunteers, and we share your disappointment.  The farm is simply not the same without the thousands of school children, companies, civic clubs, and families who share our work — and joy — as partners in our hunger-relief effort.  

We are already envisioning plans to welcome volunteers back to the farm (with much fanfare and celebration!)  We miss you and look forward to seeing you again as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Best wishes,

Jennifer Johnson

Executive Director