Farming Partners

In our Farming for our Neighbors program, we actively partner with Farmer Dave’s CSA, the Giving Garden, Groundwork Lawrence, Johnson’s Highland View Farm, Pleasant Valley Gardens, and Smolak Farms to help increase our clients' access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2015, our clients received 70,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. This year is no different. We were fortunate to have Forrest Foundation intern, Alyssa Disabito, on board to help develop and manage this program. And recently, we began partnering with Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and the Greater Boston Food Bank to bring a new Mobile Market to Lawrence that will distribute only fresh fruits and vegetables once per month.

Johnson’s Highland View Farm

In 1884, the Johnson family began farming at Johnson’s Highland View Farm in Windham, NH. Over a hundred years later, the land is still farmed by Scott and Christy Johnson, who make up the 4th generation of Johnson farmers. The Johnson family has donated countless pounds of fresh produce to Neighbors in Need. The hard work and generosity of the Johnson family, as well as of the many individuals who have volunteered their time to work on the farm, have played a big role in making sure that fresh, healthy food is always available at our pantries for families in need. Website

The Giving Garden

The Giving Garden, located in North Andover, MA, has a mission “to bring together volunteers of all ages and faiths to grow fresh produce for local food pantries.” A large amount of produce grown at the Giving Garden is generously donated to Neighbors in Need and is distributed at our various food pantries. The efforts made by each individual working at the Giving Garden are helping to make a difference in the Greater Lawrence community. The Giving Garden welcomes volunteers Tuesday evenings, Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons. To volunteer please visit their website and sign up for a volunteer shift. Website

Pleasant Valley Gardens

Located in Methuen, MA, Pleasant Valley Gardens is a family farm operated by Richard Bonanno, his wife LuAnne Bonanno, and his father Angelo Bonanno. The Bonanno family often donates fresh produce to Neighbors in Need. Their contribution to our organization is one of the many reasons why we are able to provide healthy food to people in need. Website

Farmer Dave & His CSA Members

Farmer Dave produces fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year at Brox Farm (Dracut, MA), East Street Farm (Tewskbury, MA), Hill Orchard (Westford, MA), and Farmer Dave’s Dumaresq Farm (Dracut, MA). Farmer Dave has donated hundreds of pounds of produce to Neighbors in Need over the years, thus increasing the amount of produce that we are able to provide in our pantries. Farmer Dave’s CSA members have also contributed fresh produce to Neighbors in Need by donating portions of their weekly shares. Website

Smolak Farms

Smolak Farms, located in Andover, MA, harvests apples from five different orchards each year. During the fall, kids from the Pike School in Andover, MA come to pick up dropped apples from these orchards, which they are then generous enough to donate to Neighbors in Need. Website

If you have fresh produce from your garden you’d like to donate – call us at 978 685-8321! You can either take the produce weekday mornings to our warehouse in Andover or if you have a large load, we can pick it up.