METROPOLIS — A local food donation garden is back this year to help those who struggle with food insecurity. Clean up day at the Plant A Row, Watch COPE Grow Food Donation Garden in Metropolis was held Thursday, March 12, as volunteers joined Massac County Extension representatives in preparing the garden for a new growing season.
While the garden has been located at 711 E. Fifth St. since 2024, it began in 2018 as part of a collaboration between University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardeners and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) to benefit the COPE Food Pantry in Metropolis. This will be the garden’s eighth year. It is one of several in the region overseen by Extension.
“We started these gardens to help provide fresh produce for the food pantries,” explained Extension educator Erin Garrett. “Food pantries do have other sources of fresh produce, but it’s not necessarily always reliable when they get it in or not enough for all of the clients who come, so we are able to supplement the food. Based on feedback from clients, we also grow some different things that the food pantry doesn’t usually get.”
Garrett emphasized that there is no self-harvesting allowed in the garden as “everything we do is given to the food pantry to be given to those in need,” she said.
During its 2025 growing season, the COPE garden produced more than 1,200 pounds of food that was then donated to the community.
Garrett noted Extension is always looking for volunteers to plant, weed, water as needed and harvest the garden. She emphasized that no experience is necessary. For more information on volunteering for the garden, contact Anne Townsend, Extension program coordinator and garden volunteer manager, at cupquake@illinois.edu or 618-833-6363; or contact the Massac County Extension Office at 618-524-2270.
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