Food insecurity is rising even more rapidly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. VINES recognizes that it takes the whole community working together to ensure our neighbors have access to fresh food. 

Binghamton Food Rescue (BFR), a completely volunteer run organization, has been working for the past four years to recover unsold food from farmer’s markets and other retailers and redistribute it into local neighborhoods. With more and more people coming to their free weekly food distributions, BFR reached out to collaborate with VINES to grow food in the unused spaces in two of VINES' community gardens. 

Food grown in these beds is distributed into the community through BFR at 85 Walnut Street in Binghamton from 1:30-2:30 on Saturdays as well as through a few community meals in the area.

Anyone interested can attend the Saturday distribution where there is free seasonal produce, non-perishables, and a mutual aid table. There is no sign up needed and no income restrictions. For more information please check out the Binghamton Food Rescue Facebook page or contact BFR at binghamtonfoodrescue@gmail.com.

Read more about how this collaboration came to be here. 

(spoiler alert: it has to do with Eliana Epstein, BFR volunteer and co-coordinator at VINES Corbett Ave garden)

Learn more about VINES' programs and how together we are
"growing food. growing community."

VINES is an organization committed to developing a sustainable and just community food system. We do this by bringing together diverse groups of people, with a focus on youth development, to establish community gardens, urban agriculture and community green spaces. We strive to develop and beautify urban sites and empower community members of all ages and abilities.