New Vrindaban’s Small Farm Training Center, a project of SANTEE Farm and Gardens, is distributing free organic produce to four social service agencies in the greater Wheeling/Moundsville area thanks to the pioneering efforts of Julia Charvat.

Julia, a student from Clark University, spent 90 days last summer living in New Vrindaban while learning the basics of organic farming and gardening. She combined her farm skills with her expertise in community organizing to contact area soup kitchens with an offer of fresh delivered organic produce.

Now, every Tuesday and Friday boxes of produce such as tomatoes, chard, bell peppers, squash and collard greens are dropped of at the Greater Wheeling Soup Kitchen, Catholic Charities, The House of Carpenter on Wheeling Island and Helinski Chidrens Shelter in Grand View Park.

The project, called the Farm to Family Food Pantry is designed to connect local food producers with urban residents.

“We’ve steadily delivered for three months now,” explained project coordinator Tapahpunja dasa. “Our goal is to provide quality food relief by delivering nutrient dense vegetables to charitable organizations and local families.”