FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Tricia Lounsberry has been around farming, and specifically sweet potatoes, her whole life. But she hasn’t just been picking them for herself, she does it to give back to those in need.
What You Need To Know
- Veggies for Vets serves over 50 families weekly
- All the produce distributed is grown and donated locally
- Individuals that want to sign up for the service can do so on the Off-Road Outreach site
“I love to do this. My parents ingrained this into me," Lounsberry said. "They helped people. I grew up with parents helping people.”
Even though she doesn’t do as much picking as she does does bagging the sweet potatoes these days, Lounsberry says she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“I feel like I’m doing what God put me on here to do, and as long as I’m doing this, I feel like I'm being productive," Lounsberry said.
On this day, Lounsberry and her crew bagged more than their typical share of sweet potatoes, estimating over 70 bags.
But they can't hand out this many themselves.
That's when Stacey Buckner and Veggies for Vets comes in to help distribute all the produce to veterans and their families.
“Today we will be delivering this along with some other produce from the U.S. Veterans Corps. It’s a blessing,” Buckner said.
This farm, along with three other gardens in Fayetteville, will donate their spare crops to feed those who once served our country.
The partnership eases an immense burden for over 50 families in the Fayetteville area.
“It takes a lot of stress off of us and the veterans facing food scarcity," Buckner said. "They know they’re going to get fed every Thursday.”
Some days Buckner will make multiple stops just to be able to get all the donations
After the sweet potato farm, she stops at U.S. Veterans Corps, which is donating even more boxes of fresh produce to the cause.
It will all then be boxed up and brought straight to the doorstops of veterans.
For Demarco Williams, who cooks for his entire family, a couple boxes of produce goes a long way
“An opportunity like this seems like it comes once every season," Williams said. "I’m very grateful that there are people out there actually does this for people like me who are graciously able to accept a box like this. I really love it, thank you.”