Plant a Row for the Hungry

a honeycomb motif of many photos of bright, beautiful produce and the volunteers that helped with Plant A Row in 2022

2023 Pounds Donated

  • 1661.8

    Ames Main Street Farmers Market vendors

  • 2493.1

    Reiman Gardens

  • 9882.02

    Ames community growers and farmers

About Plant a Row for the Hungry in Story County, Iowa

Launched in 1995, Plant A Row is a national public service program of Garden Communicators International (formerly the Garden Writers Association of America).  Since 1995, over 20 million pounds of produce providing over 80 million meals have been donated by American gardeners. All of this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape - just people helping people. For more information on the national program click here.

Story County PAR in Ames Iowa began in 2004, and volunteers have been fighting hunger in Central Iowa by collecting and distributing over 89,000 pounds (49.3 tons!) of fresh garden produce to agencies in the Story County area. 

Resources for home gardeners

Grower information for food pantry donations.

Top 13 vegetables to donate to food pantries.

Five regular PAR volunteers stand behind produce collected, weighed, and about to be distributed to area food banks.

Volunteer with Plant a Row

There are multiple ways to help us combat food insecurity in Story County. 

  • Plant a row of produce in your home garden and donate it to Plant a Row for the Hungry. Drop off times are 7:30-9:00 AM on Mondays* from mid-June to mid-October.
  • Collect left-over produce from vendors at the Ames Main Street Farmers Market on Saturdays.
  • Tend the Plant a Row garden at Reiman Gardens.
  • Weigh, distribute, and drop-off donated produce each Monday with other volunteers.
  • Assist with promotion through social media and local media outlets.
Sign up to volunteer

Agencies Served