Timothy James loved working in the greenhouse at Afton Central School District in Afton, N.Y.
It wasn’t just sowing seeds, tending to plants and harvesting produce that provided a deep sense of satisfaction; it also was knowing that the fruits and vegetables grown by Afton FFA members were donated to the Afton Food Pantry to help feed their neighbors in need.
“It’s really important to be there for your community,” James says. “No one should go hungry, and everybody should have access to fresh produce.”
When the coronavirus pandemic forced the school to transition to virtual learning, James knew FFA members wouldn’t be working in the greenhouse, causing a decrease in donations to the local food pantry. He talked to his agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Victoria Gregory, about continuing the work at home.
“She was surprised that it was something I wanted to do, but I don’t think she expected that I’d put in so much effort,” James recalls. “My garden was much bigger than I thought it would be.”
To expand his growing space, James constructed a greenhouse from recycled materials. Local businesses donated everything, including fertilizer, seeds, seedlings and mulch to help get the garden growing.
James grew lettuce, squash, beans, tomatoes, peppers and other produce at home. The entire harvest – more than 900 pounds of fresh produce – was donated to the Afton Food Pantry.
After graduating from high school in May, James volunteered at the food pantry before starting basic training for the U.S. Army. He hopes the Afton FFA Chapter will continue growing food and donating it to the food pantry as part of its commitment to giving back to the community.
“FFA plays a big role in this community and the Living to Serve motto is part of that,” he says. “In school, I wanted to serve the community and now I want to serve my country; I never want to lose the determination to make a difference.”
Discover more Living to Serve stories and learn how to plan your service project at FFA.org/LivingToServe.
