Because the summer farmers market on Vashon Island was canceled for the season, Abigail worked with King County Farmers Share, and the Vashon Island Growers Association to try and help replace some of the economic loss experienced by small farmers on the island. While coordinating with VIGA, Abigail was able to distribute 12,000 dollars of funding provided by KCFS to eleven different Vashon island farmers. 3,973.5 pounds of produce was purchased, which included 30 different varieties of vegetables. Food bank customers loved getting fresh island produce all season and we’re so grateful to the hard work of island farmers.
Without the diligent hard work of the Vashon Community, none of these programs would have been successful. As a Harvest VISTA, Abigail was in charge of increasing program capacity and sustainability at the Vashon Food Bank, but it was gardeners, farmers, families, and the island community at large who stepped up to take care of each other during these uncertain times.