FAQs
What is Valley Gives Day?
Farming & food access organizations, like most farms, are often challenged with high expenses and low income in the spring. Valley Grows Day, launched in 2019, is back for its fourth year to offer a critical mid-year giving opportunity to a group of eight community-based organizations centered on growing food and making that food accessible to members of our communities who are grappling with food insecurity. We are food justice organizations creating the systems change necessary to make our local food systems sustainable, resilient, and equitable!
Why this group of partners?
This fourth annual collaborative giving day supports local organizations in Western Massachusetts that have a deep commitment to growing food, addressing food access and alleviating food insecurity, fostering a strong connection to the land, and working to build a more inclusive and sustainable food system.
The participating organizations operate in both rural and urban communities in three different counties and manifest their missions in diverse ways, but we have much in common. We work in tangible ways to create a fair and sustainable local food system from farm to fork. Most of us grow food and all of us work to ensure this food is made accessible through distribution and delivery, education, and resources.
What about matching money?
Some organizations have match commitments from their own donors and business supporters. You can find that information on the participant's giving page. Double your impact when you give!
What are your goals?
Each organization has its own goal for Valley Grows Day that will be promoted on each partner’s page.
Should I give to the organizations I already support or to new ones?
BOTH! All of us are counting on support from our regular donors, but we encourage them to learn about and support the work of other participants. Even a small gift as a token of appreciation for the work will be meaningful!
Can I give early?
YES! Valley Grows Day participating organizations are working diligently to address food access in the face of ongoing and alarming rates of food insecurity within our communities. We want to build as much excitement as possible and encourage you to give on May 17, however, if it’s more convenient for you to give in advance, or after Valley Grows Day ends, please simply indicate that your gift(s) is/are intended to contribute to the Valley Grows Day initiative so that we can keep track of our overall progress. This can typically be done through the giving platform.