Meet Wendy

Wendy graduated from Growing Home’s job training program on July 9th, 2011. We were thrilled to hire her to continue working at Growing Home through October. In November 2011, she spoke to us about her experience:

“I have a love of food and people. I worked in the produce department at a couple grocery stores. I was always on the opposite side of the box–taking it out, not putting it in. So I really had no idea what went into it.

At Growing Home, I was able to learn the behind-the-scenes part of produce, how to grow it, and how much really goes into it, especially when it is organic and grown vine-ripe.

Growing Home gives you something positive. It has really helped me to learn about myself and not give up. And that is a big plus, because I have gotten more opportunities here than ever before. Now I know there are people out there that are so willing to help the less fortunate. Growing Home has helped me say, “Okay, you can do this.”

In January 2012, Wendy gained employment at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. She told our Employment Specialist that she is really enjoying the work there and that she expects to help out at Growing Home’s farms when she has time this summer.

It’s easy to help give opportunities to people like Wendy. Your donation to Growing Home helps us employ underserved Chicagoans in our job training program, promote and distribute healthy food in “food deserts,” and develop sustainable food systems in Chicago.