This amazing woman is using gardening to fight childhood hunger in her local community! Learn more about Raya and how you can help her cause below…

Raya Allen (left in the picture above) contacted our Facebook page recently to share her amazing story. Raya is a Culinary and Pastry Arts teacher in San Bernadino, California, and she is passionate about helping children learn to feed themselves – especially with healthy, fresh foods.

We thought this would be a great opportunity to share Raya’s passion and inspiration with others, and provide our readers and followers with a chance to join in her amazing cause through a seed drive!

Here is more about Raya, and what you can do to help:

Q: Why do you feel so passionate about what you do?

A:  The children in my school are located in a food desert –  A place where there are no fresh produce grocery stores or farmers markets nearby. My school is Title 1, meaning most are on the free lunch program due to low income. I am responsible for teaching these children the importance of their lives and their paths but I also feel called to teach them the importance of their health.

Q: How do you plan to make a difference in these children’s lives?

A: My school has allowed me access to what I believe could save the children in this community: a garden. Now an empty lot, it is my hope to grow fresh, organic fruits and vegetables for these children and change their lives and relationship to food!

Q: If people want to get involved with your cause, what can they do to help?

A: I am not asking for any monetary donation of any kind; I am simply asking for donations of any unopened, packaged and labeled seeds that anyone may be willing to contribute. ANY type of seed is welcome. Every seed counts and no seed donation is too small!

Q: How do you hope that your program will ultimately change your community for the better?

A: I believe gardening and learning to provide food for yourself and your family to be just as important as learning to read and write. My students have big dreams and even bigger hearts and deserve the same opportunities to have fresh food as any one else. We can change and save our children, one seed at at a time!

Q: How can people get in touch with you to donate and learn more?

A: For more information on how you can help, please email me at: chefrayasgarden@gmail.com.

Thank you!
Chef Raya Allen