Beginnings: McKinney Roots was an idea started in living room conversations amongst friends. Three strong women (Carissa, Michelle and Taylor) with a passion for gardening and a heart for those in need.
Problem: Fresh produce can be expensive. The food insecure (e.g. those at or below the poverty line) struggle to provide their families and themselves with healthy food options. 16% of the population in our area are at or below the poverty line.
Our Solution: Meet that need by starting a commercial size donation garden. Provide fresh, naturally/organically-grown produce to the food insecure without any strings attached.
Engagement: Welcome multiple volunteer groups to gather around the garden, planting, digging, learning and making a difference in their community.
Distribution: At harvest, the produce will be distributed to service organizations and facilities already serving the food insecure. Pasture raised chicken eggs will also be part of our donation.
Need: LAND! We have started our gardens on small personal properties. This has inhibited us from being able to engage the community, gather volunteers and grow at the scale needed to meet the demand. We are seeking funding to procure 1 acre of land from which to expand. Leasing, while less expensive in the short run, is not a viable option due to the effort and time required to have sustainable soil and fruit trees. We are seeking a permanent location as moving once the beds and trees are in place would introduce downtime of 1-2 years.
Tipping Point: Funds will allow us to fully purchase 1 acre of land within a 5 mile area of McKinney TX enabling maximum community participation. We will be able to conservatively donate 8,000 pounds of produce per year to families in need distributed through our local partners.
Follow along at:
www.facebook.com/mckinneyroots
