Unity College Class to Harvest for Volunteer Regional Food Pantry

Unity, Maine – October, 2009 –  A Unity College class will be harvesting potatoes to benefit the Volunteer Regional Food Pantry in Unity. 

      In the winter of 2009, the Volunteer Regional Food Pantry moved into the former Unity Fire Department fire station on Depot Street.  The new location afforded the food pantry the opportunity to plant a garden near the station.

     “This summer under the supervision of food pantry volunteer Richard Moore, a 2,000 square foot garden was planted,” said Sara Trunzo, former Farm and Landscape Manager at Unity College and current Community Based Learning Food and Farm Project coordinator, a new position at unity College funded by Americorps VISTA program.

      Potatoes from the garden will be harvested, washed and sorted by students in a Unity College class taught by Associate Professor Nancy Ross entitled The Environmental Citizen: Growing a Garden, Feeding Those in Need. The harvest will take place on October 14 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

     Trunzo explained that the garden is a step in a larger effort to support the pantry.

     “The College is committed to support the food pantry in their efforts to diversify the ways they feed people,” said Trunzo.“Whether it’s getting food grown at Unity College into the pantry, purchasing surplus food, seeking donations from area farmers, growing food on site, or starting to teach people how to garden at home, the pantry continues to adapt to grow to serve people to need a helping hand.”

       Additional events to benefit the pantry included a benefit concert by popular Unity area band Dog Wants Out that was held on Saturday, October 3, at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts on Depot Street.   Admission was free for those who brought canned goods to benefit the food pantry.

     Dog Wants Out is a band composed of Unity College faculty and staff members.  They have been performing at farmer’s markets across Maine through the summer and fall to call attention to buying local and supporting local farmers.  The show is part of the Arts for Hunger program at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts, a fundraising program to benefit area hunger relief programs.

     Dog Wants Out is Sara Trunzo; Unity College Professor John Zavodny; Unity College Director of Student Health Services; and Professor Amy Arnett.

     On November 18 the 15^th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner will be held at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts from 5-7 p.m.  Proceeds benefit the food pantry and other Unity area hunger relief organizations.  The event is being coordinated by the The Environmental Citizen Growing a Garden, Feeding Those in Need taught by Associate Professor Ross.

     Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources.  Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.