Pleasantville Community Garden
Bringing Fresh Food to People in Need
PCG Community Partnerships
Since 2014 our mission has been to provide fresh, nutritious food to the hungry in Westchester County.
We could not do what we do without our volunteers and the community partners who are listed below. Collectively, we work together to help feed the 20% of Westchester County residents who struggle with food insecurity.
Where we get it
Pleasantville Community Garden
The Pleasantville Community Garden is located on the grounds of St. John's Episcopal Church in Pleasantville, NY. This garden is truly the heart of the work that we do. It was constructed over two weekends in June of 2014 by over 100 volunteers. Although we continue to grow tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and peppers, we have added culturally significant crops like corn, beans, root vegetables and much more. We are able to produce and donate an astounding 500 pounds of produce from our little garden annually.
Where we give it
Hillside Food Outreach
Our main donation point is the Hillside Food Outreach which is located in Mt. Kisco. This amazing organization feeds 2,400 Westchester residents. They have developed a program where the pantry will actually deliver food to the recipients - who typically are elderly, ill or undergoing treatment, or have multiple jobs and can't get to a pantry. We are thrilled to continue working with Hillside.
Pleasantville Farmers Market
We have made a wonderful partnership with the Pleasantville Farmers Market which has allowed us to greatly expand the amount of food we can donate. At the end of the market on Saturdays our volunteers go around to the participating vendors at the Market to pick up any leftover vegetables that the farmers may have. The farmers that we have interacted with have been very generous and given as much as they could. The PCG is very excited to continue working with the PFM. Click on the logo above for more information on this great organization!
The Pantry NY
The Pantry NY envisions a Northern Westchester community where everyone has enough nutritious food and is empowered to thrive.
They serve an average of 700 families every week from 21 local communities, which means over 2,000 individuals every week are well nourished enough to work, study, grow, and play. They are a mostly volunteer-led organization that relies on the generosity of volunteers, neighbors, and donors to unload food deliveries, stock shelves, pack produce, rescue food form local food donors, make home deliveries, assist our guests at distributions, and provide much-needed funding to support our operations.
Community Drop Off Point
As another way to promote giving back to the community we act as a drop off point for people with extra vegetables. Many people in Pleasantville have their own gardens where they grow vegetables that they or their family can eat. Sometimes during the harvest season, people find themselves with an overabundance of food that they can't eat themselves. People are encouraged to drop off extra vegetables at the garden at 8 Sunnyside Avenue, so we can bring it to those in need.
Roxbury Farms CSA
Roxbury Farm CSA is a community supported farm; a partnership between the farmers and the customers. Through this partnership they work together to create a food system that works for everyone. Locally, CSA members collect their shares at the Pace Pleasantville campus. During the summer months, when the campus is closed, weekly unclaimed CSA shares are donated to PCG and shared.
Neighbors Link
We have developed a strong partnership with Neighbors Link in Mount Kisco. The Neighbors Link mission is to strengthen whole communities through healthy integration of immigrants. The programming offered includes a Worker Center, Family Center, and English as a Second Language for over 2,400 clients each year. Many of the participants at Neighbors Link have a difficult time making ends meet so we donate fresh vegetables to this group weekly for distribution to the clients to make sure they have access to nutritional vegetables.
Second Chance Foods
Our partners at Second Chance Foods connects available nourishing food with those in need by focusing on rescuing usable surplus from grocery stores, retail markets, wholesalers, and local farms. Then they use their extensive cold storage system to keep food fresh and connect it with the community.