‘Plant a Row for the Hungry’ Program Grows Community Support in Sedgwick County

May 23, 2025

By Trish Svoboda

All images courtesy K-State Research and Extension

For 25 years, Sedgwick County’s “Plant a Row for the Hungry” program has helped put fresh food on the tables of families in need. This community-led effort is a partnership among Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, ICT Food Rescue, and local businesses. Originally launched in 1995 as a public service program by the Garden Writers Association and the GWA Foundation, the local Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign has provided 811,404 pounds of fresh produce since it began in the area in 2000.

Abbey Draut, Horticulture Food Crops Agent with K-State Research and Extension in Sedgwick County, said the initiative encourages residents to grow extra produce in their gardens and donate the surplus. Draut explained the donation process.

“Produce is collected at the drop off sites. Anybody in the community can drop off produce that they’ve either grown in their gardens that’s excess. Even if they purchased it from the store, they can drop it off if they don’t think they will use it,” explained Draut. “From there ICT Food Rescue volunteers go around to each of these drop off sites and pick up the food to distribute.”

Participation is measured by pounds of food collected, not individual donors, due to the open nature of the program. Last year, over 4,000 pounds of produce were donated, though high temperatures and water restrictions led to a dip in donations.

With increased awareness and community involvement-including food giveaways for families in need-organizers hope to expand donation sites and increase contributions in the coming years. Draut said that they provide education for people that are interested in learning more about vegetable gardening, or how to get more harvest out of their plants so that they can donate.

“We have demonstration gardens on our property. Our Master Gardener committee works with community gardens all over Sedgwick County. There’s about 20 around the county right now that are active and we provide education to those growers there. And then some of those gardens also have an extra row planted that they donate from.”

Draut noted that only clean, fresh produce should be donated—leafy greens are not accepted due to spoilage issues.

Donation sites will begin accepting donations on June 1 and continue through the first week of September. Ten drop-off locations will be placed around the Wichita-metro city area to gather donations to be delivered to those in need.

Donations sites include: