The Junior League of Tallahassee, in conjunction with Second Harvest of the Big Bend, UF IFAS, and Sabal Palm Elementary, A Community Partnership School, hosted a “Grow Together as a Family” community event on Saturday, Jan. 20.
An initiative to combat food insecurity, Grow Together was organized by JLT’s Mighty Meals Committee, serving 104 people while combining food, fun, and educational elements for students at Sabal Palm Elementary and their families.
Second Harvest of the Big Bend brought their mobile pantry to the school, and both adults and children were able to “shop” for meat, bread, fresh produce, canned goods, and shelf-stable items free of charge. Second Harvest then hosted a cooking demonstration and taste testing station.
Bringing in the growth element, UF IFAS representatives walked the students through planting and harvesting their own food. Each student was able to plant their own vegetables, fruits, and herbs to take home and grow. Additionally, Charlisa Whyms, Ph.D, led a demonstration to teach the kids how to extract DNA from a strawberry!