For Immediate Release
April 28, 2010
Contact: Nathan Flood
717-787-4420
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A Conversation with Senator Brubaker

Hunger Caucus Plans Capitol Hunger Garden

At a recent meeting of the Hunger Caucus, members explored the idea of creating a hunger garden staffed by volunteers to provide food to needy Pennsylvanians. I am pleased to announce that this concept will become a reality this summer on ground adjacent to the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

The hunger garden will rely on volunteers who will donate their time, supplies and expertise to grow fresh vegetables to be donated to local food banks. The Hunger Caucus will work collaboratively on the hunger garden project with Hunger Caucus co-chair Rep. John Myers and Rep. Dwight Evans, who originally suggested the concept at last month’s Hunger Caucus meeting. We are working in cooperation with the governor’s office and the Department of General Services on the project, and I am deeply thankful for the cooperation of all of the parties who are involved.

The hunger garden will be located in a highly visible tract of land near the Capitol Building. I am hopeful that the garden will serve as a valuable teaching tool for the large number of school and youth groups who visit the Capitol each year, bringing greater awareness to the importance of volunteerism and the vital role that agriculture plays in our state and national economy. All food grown in the garden will be donated to local food banks, pantries and other organizations serving Pennsylvanians in need.

In addition to serving as a valuable educational tool and a vital source of food for needy Pennsylvanians, I strongly believe that the hunger garden is an important lesson about the importance of what can be accomplished through bipartisanship. The Hunger Caucus is made up of a broad coalition of Republican and Democratic legislators who are committed to reducing hunger in our communities, and the idea for the hunger garden was originally suggested by a Democratic representative from Philadelphia.  

Members from both sides of the aisle will be contributing their efforts to establish and maintain the garden. Fighting hunger in our communities is not a partisan issue; it is a responsibility that every individual should take seriously in order to promote healthy communities. I am hopeful that this spirit of bipartisan cooperation in the General Assembly will continue as we begin the budget process and deal with other vital state issues in the coming weeks and months.

A number of individuals and organizations have already agreed to donate supplies and time to the hunger garden, and I am grateful for these generous donations. Individuals who are interested in donating time or supplies for the hunger garden are encouraged to contact my district office by calling (717) 627-0036 or by visiting the Hunger Caucus website at www.senatorbrubaker.com/hungercaucus.htm.

Hunger and food insecurity are vital issues in every community across the state, and it is extremely important to keep these issues in the public eye. I am extremely confident that this project will be an overwhelming success with the help and continuing support of dedicated volunteers, legislators and other interested parties, and I look forward to seeing the positive results of the hunger garden this summer and in future years.