Fresh for Neighbors

Fresh for Neighbors: Grow & Give is an initiative of the Catholic Garden Network that encourages thoughtful food-sharing across Catholic communities. Rooted in the belief that small, faithful acts matter, Fresh for Neighbors invites parishes, schools, and households to share garden-grown food with neighbors in need through existing, trusted local systems.

Rather than creating something new, Fresh for Neighbors seeks to strengthen what is already present – connecting gardens, people, and ministries in ways that are simple, coordinated, and responsive to local context.

What Is Fresh for Neighbors?

Fresh for Neighbors is a diocesan-level food-sharing initiative that supports parishes, schools, and households in offering garden-grown produce to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

The initiative focuses on:

• Encouraging participation at many scales, from parish gardens to home gardens
• Supporting coordination across Catholic communities
• Connecting food-sharing efforts with established Catholic Charities ministries
• Honoring local capacity, limits, and discernment

Fresh for Neighbors is designed to be flexible, relational, and rooted in place.

Fresh for Neighbors is:

• Not a gardening education or training program
• Not a seed, seedling, or supply distribution effort
• Not a replacement for existing parish or diocesan ministries
• Not a one-size-fits-all model

Each community is invited to participate in ways that fit its own context and capacity.

How the Partnership Works

Fresh for Neighbors is stewarded by the Catholic Garden Network in partnership with Catholic Charities ministries.

• Catholic Garden Network provides the overall framing, digital resources, and coordination for the initiative.
• Catholic Charities ministries serve as coordinating partners at the diocesan level, helping ensure that food-sharing efforts connect smoothly with existing local systems.
• Parishes, schools, and households discern how they might participate, using the initiative as a guide rather than a mandate.

This shared approach helps ensure clarity, coordination, and care for all involved.

Who Can Request the Kit

The Fresh for Neighbors Digital Kit is available to parishes, schools, and Catholic communities in dioceses where Catholic Garden Network partners with Catholic Charities ministries.

In the Diocese of Arlington, Catholic Charities serves as our coordinating partner, helping ensure that food-sharing efforts connect smoothly with existing local systems.

What’s Included in the Fresh for Neighbors Digital Kit

The Digital Kit is designed to offer clear guidance and shared language, without being prescriptive. It includes:

• An overview of the Fresh for Neighbors initiative
• Suggested participation pathways for parishes, schools, and households
• Messaging support for parish communications
• Guidance on coordination with Catholic Charities ministries
• A brief reflection component to support spiritual grounding

The kit is intended to be shared thoughtfully within participating communities.

Request the Fresh for Neighbors Digital Kit

We’re glad to share this resource with communities interested in participating in Fresh for Neighbors.