Fertile Ground Incorporated
Food Access & Community Pantry Program
No family should have to wonder where their next meal will come from.
The Fertile Ground Food Access & Community Pantry Program provides consistent supplemental food support to families in the Austell and West Cobb area by rescuing and redistributing high-quality, unexpired food through a community-powered network of donors and volunteers.
This program exists to meet a real, present need—with dignity, care, and accountability.
WHY THIS PROGRAM EXISTS
Food insecurity impacts more families than most people realize—including working households, seniors, and parents doing their best to make ends meet.
Rising food costs, housing pressure, and transportation barriers have created a gap that emergency food programs alone cannot close.
Fertile Ground’s Food Access Program was created to:
01
reduce immediate food insecurity
02
support household stability
03
prevent waste of edible food,
04
and strengthen community care systems.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Food Rescue → Community Distribution → Household Support
Food Donations Collected
We receive unexpired surplus food from local partners and donors.
Transport & Storage
Food is safely transported, sorted, and stored for short-term distribution.
Family Notification
Enrolled families are notified when food is available.
Community Distribution
Volunteers assist with fair, respectful distribution until supplies are exhausted.
Ongoing Support
Families can remain enrolled for future distribution events based on availability.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Make a Financial Donation
Your donation helps us cover:
Getting food into the community takes miles, not just good intentions. Your gift helps us cover gas, tolls, and basic maintenance for the vehicles we use to pick up donations and deliver food directly to families, elders, and neighbors in need. Right now, most of this work happens in our personal cars, which has put heavy wear and tear on vehicles that aren’t built for frequent, heavy hauling. Financial support helps us rent or secure appropriately sized vehicles, make safe repairs, and ensure that transportation never becomes the reason someone doesn’t eat.
We do not have enough workforce to operate at the scale needed. Funding supports part-time or full-time coordinators, stipends for community workers, and training for individuals who can help manage logistics, partner relationships, and expansion as the program grows.
Fresh food shouldn’t go to waste because we don’t have a place to keep it safe. At this time, we have no refrigeration dedicated to the pantry and no space inside The Alchemist Den to house the units we need. This limitation is a major reason we had to stop accepting large-scale food donations this past summer, despite having partners ready to help us feed the community. Your donation helps us secure refrigerated and freezer storage, as well as a facility that can hold it, so we can safely accept, store, and distribute perishable items like produce, dairy alternatives, and prepared meals in full compliance with food safety standards.
Food Handling & Packaging Supplies
Before food ever reaches a family’s table, there are countless small but essential items that make safe distribution possible. Your support helps us purchase:
-
Zip-top storage bags and brown paper bags
-
Serving platters and trays for community meals
-
Foil, film wrap, and food-safe containers
-
Large pots and cookware for preparing hot meals
-
To-go packaging and bulk packaging supplies
-
Labels, markers, gloves, and sanitizing supplies
These are the unseen costs that add up quickly but are absolutely necessary for safely handling, portioning, and packaging food in ways that respect both health and dignity.
-
While donations are essential, there are times when specific items are urgently needed and not available through partners. Contributions allow Fertile Ground to buy fresh produce, staple pantry items, culturally relevant foods, and special dietary options (low-sodium, gluten-free, etc.) to fill gaps and ensure no one is turned away empty-handed.
Our volunteers are the heart and hands of this work. Your donation helps us recruit, organize, and support the people who show up to load cars, pack bags, cook meals, and serve the community. Funds in this area may cover things like volunteer training, scheduling and communication tools, basic protective gear (such as gloves or aprons), refreshments during long distribution days, and, where possible, small stipends or transportation support for volunteers who are also facing financial hardship. Strong volunteer coordination allows us to serve more people, more consistently, without burning out the very community members who are giving their time and energy.
Because we’ve already had to pause large-scale donations due to compliance and space limitations, donations help cover costs for things like facility rental or build-out, inspections, safety equipment, and any improvements required to meet health and safety standards.
Right now, our capacity is limited by space, equipment, and workforce. Your investment in this area helps us plan and build toward a fully equipped, community-centered food access hub. Future expansion may include:
-
Securing a dedicated facility with room for refrigeration, dry storage, and prep space
-
Building out a compliant kitchen for community meals and cooking demonstrations
-
Developing a mobile pantry component to reach neighbors who can’t easily travel
-
Increasing the frequency and reach of our distributions
-
Strengthening partnerships with farms, grocers, and restaurants
Supporting future expansion means you are helping us move from “doing what we can with what we have” to building a sustainable, scalable program that matches the true level of need in our community.
-
