16 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • May 2014
BY CHRIS JONES
Grow Your
Neighbor
M
ary VanSlyke wasn't looking to start a move-
ment, but as the old adage speaks, "neces-
sity is the mother of invention." What she
saw was something that was necessary to help those
less fortunate gain access to healthy, locally grown
produce.
"I was with my neighbor who was a Spotsylvania
County farmers' market manager. She was trying to
make it accessible for people using SNAP and food
banks. I walked away thinking that I know a lot of
people who have gardens and have excess produce.
I called the food bank and let them know I could
help," says VanSlyke.
In a recent statement, she calls the program a
community project that will provide many families
with fresh produce throughout the local growing sea-
son. It is an initiative to inform area residents of the
Fredericksburg Area Food Bank's need for fresh food
