TowerFall2022

FALL2022 | TOWER 7 2.5million pounds of produce donated annually. 255 Free FarmMarkets plus a network of food pantries, food banks and other agencies distributed Grow-a-Row fruits and vegetables. 420 acres of farmland owned by Grow-a-Row and used to grow produce to fight food insecurity. 2,440 children and adults participated in educational programs to learn about nutrition, preparing healthy meals and more. 17,150 volunteer hours donated to harvest and distribute produce and assist with other needs at Grow-a-Row. 85,700 people fed. The changes allowed Grow-a-Row to hit its goal of distributing 2 million pounds of food in 2020 and 2.4 million in 2021. The organization’s ability to maintain its volume was crucial as the demand at food banks and food pantries increased by more than 50% during the pandemic. “Our greatest days were the last two years,” Paillex says. “I’m very proud of the team and humbled to work with such an incredible group of people.” The growth of the organization means administrative tasks and fundraising take significant amounts of Paillex’s time, but he still makes sure to “get messy with everyone else,” working in the fields and distributing food at Free Farm Markets. Sometimes he’s joined by his daughter, Kyra, now a teacher. It’s central to his leadership style, says Heather Mulvey, director of development and communications. “Chip is a boots-on-the-ground leader,” Mulvey says. “He inspires our staff with his enthusiasm, leads by example, and has drawn together a very collaborative and productive team. As a result, the team instills confidence in our funders through our ability to consistently deliver and exceed our goals. With the help of our volunteers and donors, together we make a positive impact on the communities we serve.” While statistics in the millions dramatically illustrate the organization’s growth, Paillex still remembers the woman who followed him out of the food pantry asking him to return. With that in mind, it’s easy to visualize what it looks like to serve 86,000 people each day. “It’s 17 miles of (individual) people at our front door every single day, getting a healthy serving of produce,” he says. Source: Grow-Glean-Give: Grow-a-Row 2021 Annual Report

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