PORT TOWNSEND — Olympic Community Action Programs is encouraging fresh produce shoppers and farmers to “Share the Harvest” at the Saturday Port Townsend Farmers Market uptown.
A shopping basket was stationed Saturday at the market entrance at Lawrence and Tyler streets to accept donations.
It will be there from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday until September, said program coordinator Leora Stein, an AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America — or VISTA — volunteer who works as OlyCAP’s local food resource coordinator.
Donations to food banks
It is the latest in the agency’s ongoing efforts to bring fresh vegetables and fruit to needy families in East Jefferson County through the five food banks in Port Townsend, the Tri-Area, Quilcene, Coyle and Brinnon. Donated food goes to the food banks.
“This project connects local food sources with emergency food sources,” Stein said, standing near a community garden planted at the partner property and home of The ReCyclery in uptown Port Townsend, not far from the farmers market’s uptown location.
“This is for people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to fresh produce.”
Vegetables grown there will go to the needy and young people working the garden, said Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear, owner of The ReCyclery, a business collective that trains youths to repair bikes.
The business and community garden is on property donated by owner Malcolm Dorn, a community and youth supporter, at 612 Polk St.
Seeds and plant starts for the garden were donated by the Midori and Collinwood farms in Port Townsend.
Gleaning effort
Share the Harvest is a gleaning effort in partnership with Quimper Community Harvest, which attempts to prevent food waste by encouraging people to share their organic food with those in need.
Besides OlyCAP, the Small Farms Program, Plant a Row for the Hungry and Local 20/20 are part of the program.
Those who can’t make it to the farmers market can take donations directly to the food banks.
The food banks and the hours when they accept donations are:
• Port Townsend, Mountain View Commons, 1919 Blaine St., from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays.
• Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays.
• Brinnon Community Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101, Brinnon, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesdays.
• Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, Quilcene, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays.
• Coyle Community Center, 423 Hazel Point Road, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursdays.
Fresh produce also can be donated to OlyCAP’s Port Townsend headquarters, 803 W. Park Ave., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Stein, who asks that all produce donated be fresh, washed and ready to eat.
OlyCAP has established a growing community pea patch garden next its Thrift Shoppe on Rhody Drive in Port Hadlock, where those without garden space can grow their own.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
