A new farm is set to tackle food insecurity in Hartford’s North End with the goal of ending hunger and poverty in the area. Levo International, in collaboration with the City of Hartford, Hands-on Hartford, and CarMax, aims to turn gardening into farming to produce fresh food through hydroponic systems, which will create employment opportunities for local residents. The initiative received support from about 150 volunteers from CarMax, who drove from neighboring states to help.
The University of Hartford’s Nosh Food Pantry will also benefit from the farm, providing fresh fruits and vegetables to students in need. Katie Kitchens, assistant vice president for Student Success at the University of Hartford, highlighted the importance of the partnership in ensuring that students have access to nutritious food to support their education.
Christian Heiden, founder and managing director of Levo International, mentioned that they are still working with the city to finalize the location for the hydroponic farm, with plans to have the systems installed by the fall. Eddie Culbreath, regional vice president of CarMax, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives aligned with the interests of its employees, who selected Levo International as the mission to support through a survey.
Overall, the community farm initiative aims to address food insecurity, provide employment opportunities, and promote sustainability in Hartford’s North End, creating a positive impact on the community.
Source
Photo credit www.nbcconnecticut.com