IRIS and Tasha – A Story of Sharing for Thanksgiving
November 18, 2011
Woodbridge, CT: Tasha DeYoung, at age 13, is certainly one of Massaro Community Farm’s youngest CSA members. She decided to celebrate Thanksgiving early this year by donating 2 years (that’s 4 seasons) worth of fresh food from the farm to IRIS, a New Haven non-profit whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities.
Tasha first became acquainted with IRIS when she began volunteering for them as part of her Bat Mitzvah community service project. From that work, Tasha and her family have developed a friendship with a local Congolese family of six who attended Tasha’s Bat Mitzvah this past October and who will get to enjoy dinner with the DeYoungs’ at this year’s Thanksgiving.
In lieu of gifts, Tasha asked that guests who attended her Bat Mitzvah help contribute to her goal of creating a fund that will set aside one CSA subscription for a 2 year period that will allow IRIS families to have weekly access to fresh farm food.
Tasha was first introduced to Massaro Community Farm by her neighbor, MCF Board member Diane King, who often asked the DeYoung family to use her weekly CSA subscription of produce when she was out of town. Initially, Tasha thought of buying a CSA subscription for her family and giving some of the fresh foods to IRIS. But the timing of her Bat Mitzvah date coinciding with Sukkoth, the Jewish holiday that is regarded as a general thanksgiving for the bounty of nature, inspired Tasha to give away an entire subscription, $550 worth per year. It was a bounty that Tasha wanted to tithe to make an extended impact. “I’m excited that I am able to fund 2 years worth of a CSA subscription, now I know families will eat better food. If I can have access to good food, so can they.”
At a special “ceremony” this past week, Tasha met with Farmer Steve Munno from Massaro Community Farm as well as Chris George (Executive Director) and Kelly Hebrank (Deputy Director) of IRIS and Diane King. Farmer Steve brought out a crate of the day’s vegetables including dandelion greens and deep purple radicchio which Tasha presented to Chris, along with a certificate for the CSA subscription. “I’m excited to see a long term relationship develop between IRIS and Massaro Community Farm and it would be great to see donated CSA subscriptions become a regular popular holiday gift item for other organizations in need as well.”
Chris presented a recognition certificate to Tasha, saying, “You’ve made it cool to be generous and you set an example for other youth.” Kelly added “Our clients love fresh produce, so Tasha’s efforts will help refugees have access to healthy food that is familiar to them.”
Diane King commented that she is happy to have introduced Tasha to the farm and now to see IRIS becoming a CSA member of MCF is really a thrill. Diane says “that’s the magic of getting people to the farm in any way we can.”
Although the subscriptions have been donated, the food still needs to be picked up and delivered to the families in New Haven who do not have access to transportation. The group discussed coordinating trips by different IRIS families to Massaro Farm to pick up the fresh food weekly and see how local produce is grown. New volunteers who wish to be the drivers are welcome!
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES: “RE-ESTABLISHING OUR ROOTS”
In order to do more, the MCF Board is conducting a Capital Campaign:“Re-Establishing Our Roots.” Its GOAL is to raise $150,000 from individuals, family foundations, grants, and corporate contributions. The campaign began in October 2010 and will run through December 31, 2011. So far, the campaign has raised over $50,000 towards this goal. Read more about the campaign here…
Massaro Farm Wins 1st Place at the Garden Club of Woodbridge Flower Show “Under the Sea”
Massaro Community Farm Wins Award!
Massaro Farm’s education table won 1st place at The Garden Club of Woodbridge’s flower show, “Under The Sea” on Saturday, June 4th. Congratulations to the Education Committee for all their hard work!
Farmer Steve Munno from Massaro Farm Fights for Small Farms and Sustainable Agriculture in Washington DC
Woodbridge, Connecticut – Tuesday, April 12, 2011 – Last week, Steve Munno, Farm Manager at Massaro Farm in Woodbridge, CT, traveled to the nation’s capitol to meet with Congressional leaders to show his support for small farm and sustainable agriculture federal programs, which are currently facing possible death sentences. Munno was joined by more than 30 farmers, ranchers and conservationists from around the country, an effort spearheaded by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Read more here…
Milford-Orange Bulletin, Thursday February 4, 2010
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