Katie'S Krops

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“In 2020 we faced enormous challenges but grew and reached new heights. We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished in 2020 despite the obstacles we all now face. When the world shut down for covid, our young growers and volunteers stepped up to serve. We created new ways to help, adjusted our model, and accomplished more than we could have imagined. We knew we would need to change our katie's krops dinner model when the pandemic hit. Sit down, in-person dinners were no longer an option, but the need for food was growing dramatically as children were out of school, businesses shut down, and quarantine orders were put in place. We quickly transitioned from monthly sit-down garden-to-table dinners to weekly to-go meals. In addition to the increase in duration, we increased the number of meals served to meet the demand. We received designation as an essential organization to move forward with serving our community. In 2020, we prepared and served over 18,000 free gardens to table to-go meals. In contrast, during 2018, we served 2,248 meals the entire year. All meals were made with only five to seven volunteers to keep within strict pandemic guidelines. In addition to the meals, we distributed the following at the dinners: over 12,000 pounds of fresh produce, milk, hundreds of bags of toiletries, coloring books and crayons, 1,200 boxes of non-perishable food items, stuffed animals, and so much more. We set up a delivery system for homebound individuals. Every week 100 individuals receive hot, healthy meals at their front door. Seeds of change with children forced to quarantine this spring, we created the seeds of change program. Families across the country could request seeds to help start a garden at their home, share the harvest, or use it themselves. In 2020 we engaged: ~302 families ~112 kindergarten students ~shipped the seeds of change to 23 states and canada ~over 2250 seed packets have been shared our efforts with the seeds of change were highlighted in usa today and on the front page of numerous newspapers across the country. We heard from the families, and they shared photos of their efforts. It was exciting to provide children with a positive outlet in uncertain times. Our new flagship garden- our new flagship garden was taking shape in 2020 with plans to complete all the raised beds, build compost bins, start fencing in the garden, and plant thousands of seedlings with hundreds of volunteers. With the onset of covid-19, all of the plans came to a halt. Putting the garden on hold was never an option. Eight volunteers came together and worked tirelessly to construct, fill, and plant all the raised beds. The work completed by these eight volunteers was remarkable a temporary fence was installed immediately to keep the deer out of the garden. By the end of the year, the fence was completed, we broke ground on an outdoor classroom, and slowly welcomed volunteers in small groups. We produce thousands of pounds of produce. Construction continues on our outdoor classroom in the flagship garden with a february 2021 opening. With covid-19 still impacting our lives and many children homeschooling or online schooling, we want to provide educational opportunities and hopefully resume field trips to the garden when conditions allow. Also, we will expand our garden dramatically in the new year. Our growers did an outstanding job in a challenging world. Dexter, clayton, and ashleigh, residing in fort white, florida, have a tremendous impact on their community. In 2019 alone, they donated over 12,000 pounds of fresh produce to their community. Year after year, the siblings continue to be the top katie's krops producers. 2020 did not disappoint they exceeded their previous totals mrs. Mcgrath, a passionate third-grade teacher from georgia, oversees her students in growing their expansive katie's krops school garden at rocky branch elementary. Mrs. Mcgrath, whose students have been growing with us for eleven years now, took the most r”