No. 863 KATIE'S KROPS!

No. 863

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

KATIE’S KROPS!

If you are a strong believer in the “Power of One,” you will really appreciate, and may even benefit from, a true story that I want to share with you today. A while back a friend sent me an e-mail about a unique project called “Katie’s Krops” started by a remarkable young lady in South Carolina. After reading about this project, I went to the Internet and checked it out. As I began to read more about this project, I could not believe the story that was unfolding for all to see. After you learn more, I believe you will be as impressed as I was.
The idea for Katie’s Krops began with a 9-year-old girl and a 40-pound cabbage. In 2008, Katie brought a tiny cabbage seedling home from school as part of the Bonnie Plants Third Grade Cabbage program. She tended to her cabbage and cared for it until it grew to an amazing 40 pounds. With the knowledge that her cabbage was special, she donated it to a soup kitchen where it helped to feed more than 275 people. Moved by the experience of seeing how many people could benefit from the donation of fresh produce to soup kitchens, Katie decided to start vegetable gardens and donate the harvest to help feed people in need.
Now, please fast-forward with me to meet this soon-to-be national role model. Her name is Katie Stagliano and she is now 13 years of age. Her mission has become to start and maintain vegetable gardens of all sizes and donate the harvest to help feed people in need, as well as to assist and inspire others to do the same. When I wrote to her to ask permission to write this column, I loved the way she signed her e-mail: Katie Stagliano, Chief Executive Gardener and Founder. From time to time she is also able to offer grants to kids ages 9 to 16 to start vegetable gardens where the bounty is donated to individuals in need.
Here is the part of the program that I really like. Katie’s Krops gardens provide a sustainable solution to hunger while teaching kids an understanding of agriculture and the environment, nutrition, responsibility and compassion. Wouldn’t it be great if more inner-city kids could have this same experience? There is much more I could say, but none more effective than this child’s own words: “My dream was born when I brought my cabbage to Tri-County Family Ministries. When I walked in I saw a huge line of people waiting for what might be the only meal they would have for that day. The people who worked there and the people who were eating there were so friendly and nice.
“As I served my cabbage to the guests and they thanked me for helping to feed them, I knew I could and I should do more to help. That day at Tri-County Family Ministries my dream was born. My dream is that there are no hungry people. I found help with my dream, first from Amazing-Kids.org. They held a Launch-My-Dream T-Shirt contest. I entered and out of hundreds of entries I won. But I did not stop there. I asked my school to help and they donated a huge plot of land for a garden.
“The whole school -- kindergarten to 12th grade -- is helping and the harvest is donated to feed hungry people. But I did not stop there either. I contacted Fields to Families and asked them if they could help. The board of directors said ‘yes’ and I now have a Master Gardener, Ms. Lisa, to work with. But I am not stopping there and on she goes.”
To learn more visit her website: www.katiesKrops.com. You will be impressed just like I am. The “Power of One” spirit lives on.
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(EDITOR'S NOTE: Jim Davidson is a public speaker and syndicated columnist. You may contact him at 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034. To begin a bookcase literacy project visit www.bookcaseforeverychild.com. You won’t go wrong helping a needy child.)