Heros at Seed2Need saw a hunger problem and found a way to feed Sandoval families
Heroes see a problem and they find a solution — or work toward one. Those people who recognize the problem and seize the moment with heart, dedication and determination are true heroes. They know that they cannot wait for someone else to find the solution.
Sandy and Penny Davis and their daughter Leslie of Corrales are examples of local heroes who saw a need and weren’t content with just letting other people worry about it. In 2008, when the recession was beginning, they heard stories of people who were struggling, losing their homes and desperately trying to feed their families. They decided to find a way to help. And a Seed2Need was born.
Initially they grew vegetables on a small plot of land belonging to their next-door neighbor and gave the crop to food pantries. That was fine, but only a limited amount of vegetables could be grown and only a limited number of people could be helped. They wanted to do more.
The Davises then talked to Nora Scherzinger who was the Corrales village administrator at the time about finding more land. Scherzinger said the group could use land belonging to her and her husband, Vic, who has since died. The Scherzingers also agreed to give them water for irrigation and electricity. Since then, three other families have made the same deal with Seed2Need and provided more land for use in the quest to feed people in need: Judy and Richard Jacobs, Dr. Robert Lynn and his wife Janet Braziel, and Ken and Jane Sageser.
As a Sandoval County master gardener, Penny Davis had more knowledge than the average person and knew what resources were available. And, with an irrigation system provided by the master gardeners, some grants and donations and thousands of hours of volunteer time, Seed2Need has become a major source of fresh food for people in need. In 2015 the group donated 70,000 pounds of produce to local food programs.
More than 400 people have offered to volunteer, and they have about 70 regular volunteers. About 150 people show up on planting days. Volunteers come from all walks of life, churches, Boy Scouts, school groups all participate. Penny said the Mormon Church probably provides the most volunteers. They also work with Bosque School and the Albuquerque Academy. At this point donations primarily go to St. Felix Pantry, Roadrunner Food Bank and the Rio Grande Food Project.
Seed2Need also harvests fruit from orchards in Corrales when the orchards have more fruit than is needed. In addition, Seed2Need coordinates with the food banks to grow the vegetables that are most needed by them. This way, the families getting the food have more variety.
What an amazing feat Penny, Sandy and Leslie Davis have accomplished along with wonderful volunteers and donors working to make a dream a reality. It’s not every day that we find a story that is so heartwarming, that gives us so many reasons to believe in the future. And this story is right in our backyard.
All it takes is people believing they can make a difference and coupling that belief with hard work, dedication, determination and a community that cares as much as you do. Thanks to everyone at Seed2Need. You truly make a difference and deserve to be called heroes.
For more information, go to seed2need.org.