Plant for Hunger
This gardening season, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is launching a Plant for Hunger campaign, calling on home and community gardeners to donate extra garden produce to local hunger-relief organizations.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs are some of the most requested items at food pantries, yet the hardest to keep in stock. We can help keep our neighbors fed with fresh, nutritious foods. Hunger-relief organizations welcoming fresh produce donations can be located by visiting AmpleHarvest.org.
Growing and donating extra vegetables and fruits benefits our entire community by:
- Increasing access to fresh, healthy food for families experiencing food insecurity
- Helping keep local food pantry shelves stocked with fresh produce
- Reducing food waste from home gardens
- Supporting existing and new gardeners, strengthening the local food system
- Encouraging community generosity and connection
Spread the Word
Your help is needed to spread the word about the Plant for Hunger campaign and to encourage others to donate to food pantries, located through AmpleHarvest.org.
Print and distribute flyers
Print these half-page flyers to post on bulletin boards in break rooms, coffee shops, garden centers, churches, and other spaces that allow community outreach.
Download half-page flyers(PDF, 23MB)
Share on social media and in newsletters
There are three key messages for the campaign:
- Gardeners Needed
- Plant Extra
- Donate Your Harvest
Each message has three social media graphics prepared for partners to use, and each message has two social captions prepared. Partners are welcome to mix and match graphics and captions within each message.
Because social media posts with links in the body do not perform as well as those without links, we recommend posting the link to AmpleHarvest.org in the comments.
Please tag the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) in your posts whenever possible, and feel free to tag AmpleHarvest.org as well.
LLCHD accounts to tag:
AmpleHarvest.org accounts to tag:
Message 1: Gardeners Needed
Social Media Caption 1A
Fresh produce is one of the most requested items at food pantries. Experienced and new gardeners alike can help stock pantry shelves.
Start a garden or expand a garden and grow a little extra. Donate the fruits (and veggies!) of your harvest to local hunger-relief organizations.
Find a pantry needing donations using the link in the comments.
#PlantForHunger
Comment: Find a food pantry needing your donations: AmpleHarvest.org
Social Media Caption 1B
Community gardens, backyard gardens, and school gardens can all help fight hunger.
Donate extra vegetables and fruits to a local food pantry - find one near you. Use the link in the comments.
#PlantForHunger
Comment: Find a food pantry needing your donations: AmpleHarvest.org
Social Media Graphic 1A
- Alt Text:
- Graphic promoting 'Plant for Hunger.' Background shows a basket of fresh garden vegetables being held over a garden bed. Text reads: 'This Spring Plant for Hunger. Find a pantry at AmpleHarvest.org.' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo, a Nebraska outline, and a badge for spring planting and fall harvest programs.
Social Media Graphic 1B
- Alt Text:
- Graphic calling for gardeners to donate produce. A basket filled with colorful vegetables is shown on the left. Text reads: 'Gardeners needed! Fresh produce is one of the most requested but least donated items at food pantries. Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Social Media Graphic 1C
- Alt Text:
- Graphic encouraging gardeners to donate produce. Background shows cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes on a patterned cloth. Text reads: 'Fresh fruits and vegetables are needed at local food pantries. Your garden can help. Gardeners needed! Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Message 2: Plant Extra
Social Media Caption 2A
Spring planting season is here.
Extra space? Consider planting a little more to donate to a local food pantry (see the link in the comments to find a pantry near you).
#PlantForHunger
Comment: Find a food pantry needing your donations: AmpleHarvest.org
Social Media Caption 2B
Plant a little extra. Help feed a neighbor.
Join the Plant for Hunger campaign and share your garden’s bounty with local food pantries. Find a pantry near you by using the link in the comments.
#PlantForHunger
Comment: Find a food pantry needing your donations: AmpleHarvest.org
Social Media Graphic 2A
- Alt Text:
- Graphic encouraging planting extra tomatoes for donation. Image shows hands holding a large bunch of red tomatoes. Text reads: 'One tomato plant can produce 15+ pounds of tomatoes to feed our community. Plant extra! Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Social Media Graphic 2B
- Alt Text:
- Graphic encouraging gardeners to donate extra produce. The left side shows hands holding colorful tomatoes and squash. Text reads: 'Grow one more row. Donate dozens of meals. Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Additional text says 'Plant extra!' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Social Media Graphic 2C
- Alt Text:
- Graphic encouraging gardeners to donate extra produce. Background shows hands harvesting leafy green plants. Text reads: 'One more row planted. One more food pantry stocked. One more neighbor fed. Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Additional text says 'Plant extra!' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Message 3: Donate Your Harvest
Social Media Caption 3A
Did you know many gardeners grow more fruits and vegetables than they can use?
If you have extra produce from your garden, consider sharing it with neighbors experiencing hunger.
Find a pantry accepting donations using the link in the comments.
#PlantForHunger
Comment: Find a food pantry needing your donations: AmpleHarvest.org
Social Media Caption 3B
Local gardeners can help reduce food waste and fight hunger at the same time.
If your garden is producing extra tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, or herbs (or anything else), consider donating them to a nearby food pantry – find one using the link in the comments.
#PlantForHunger
Comment: Find a food pantry needing your donations: AmpleHarvest.org
Social Media Graphic 3A
- Alt Text:
- Graphic promoting produce donations. Text reads: 'Food pantries need fresh produce. Your garden can help. Donate your harvest. Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' A person wearing an apron holds freshly harvested vegetables, including carrots, radishes, leafy greens, and a round root vegetable. Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Social Media Graphic 3B
- Alt Text:
- Graphic encouraging gardeners to donate extra produce. A person carries baskets filled with fresh greens and radishes. Text reads: 'Garden overflowing? Don’t let it go to waste. Fill empty plates. Donate your harvest. Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Social Media Graphic 3C
- Alt Text:
- Graphic promoting produce donation. A basket is filled with fresh zucchini and blossoms. Text reads: 'One zucchini plant can yield 10+ pounds, often producing faster than a family can eat. Donate your harvest. Find a pantry: AmpleHarvest.org.' Includes the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department logo and a Plant for Hunger badge.
Newsletter Messaging
Shorter Version
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is calling on all home and community gardeners to Plant for Hunger this growing season. By planting extra produce and donating your harvest to local food pantries, we can help keep our neighbors fed with fresh, nutritious foods. Hunger-relief organizations welcoming fresh produce donations can be located by visiting AmpleHarvest.org.
Longer Version
This gardening season, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department is launching a Plant for Hunger campaign, calling on home and community gardeners to donate surplus garden produce to local hunger-relief organizations.
During the growing season, many gardeners find themselves with an abundance of vegetables, fruits, and herbs – more than they can use. At the same time, food pantries often struggle to obtain enough fresh fruits and vegetables for the individuals and families they serve. Local food pantries that welcome fresh produce donations can be located by visiting AmpleHarvest.org.
All gardeners are encouraged to donate their excess produce, serving to increase access to fresh, healthy foods for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Those who cannot garden are invited to spread the word.