Together We Grow | Brazos Valley Food Bank

According to Feeding America, some of the many causes of food insecurity include poverty, unemployment, and low income.

Many of our food insecure neighbors face challenges with finding employment that fits their unique circumstances, whether it is getting enough hours at their current job, finding a work schedule that fits their family needs, or not knowing where to begin while managing multiple priorities. Without access to resources and support, our neighbors in need have to make the difficult decision between buying groceries or paying for other necessities of life like bills or medication. That’s where Together We Grow comes in.

The goal of TWG is to help individuals begin a career they can build a life on

BVFB is one of the few food banks in the state of Texas that offers a course aimed at helping eligible participants earn job readiness skills including interpersonal skills, leadership, stress management, time management, financial skills, and teamwork skills, just to name a few.
Implemented in 2017, the objective of TWG is to empower targeted individuals to set goals to begin to change their lives from food insecure to food secure through skill building, goal setting, and a community of support. TWG also incorporates an onsite garden, managed by participants, who are encouraged to take home what they grow.

Through career-readiness training, and hands-on skills practice managing a fruit and vegetable garden, TWG students work individually and as a group to build on their strengths while learning new skills to thrive. Students create a community – learning from each other, contributing their unique strengths and skills, and supporting each other while planning and preparing for success in a full-time job and long-term career.

Once TWG students have begun their new careers, they can rely on TWG staff and each other for coaching to support their growth in that first year.

Testimonial

Henry Buckley moved to College Station from New Orleans a year ago in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though he is grateful to have family in the area, including his grandmother and uncle, it was a difficult move for him. He left behind all his friends and was unemployed when he first arrived in the Brazos Valley. At the recommendation of his grandmother, Henry registered for the Together We Grow (TWG) program at BVFB.

He completed the five-week course which included work with the Professional Development Specialist and Individual Development Specialist to learn and strengthen skills such as resume building. Henry’s primary goals when joining the program was to make good use of his free time and gain skills that would help him build a comfortable career. In addition to achieving those goals he learned much more than he originally expected.

“It was just great. I learned great things about how to get a job and how to keep a job but what surprised me is how much the people genuinely care. They actually want to help people.”

Henry is now employed as a contractor for Professional Transport Incorporate and plans to continue looking for work and opportunities that build upon the skills he learned in TWG. He has a new girlfriend and his settling into the area stating, “It’s quiet here. That suits me now.”

“I can’t even explain how thankful I am,” said Henry, “I am just grateful. I can tell the people in the program want me to do well. I have been all the way down and I have been up, and I can tell who genuinely wants me to succeed and the people at the food bank do.”

Volunteer in the Together We Grow Garden!

Where: Brazos Valley Food Bank
Date and Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (Tuesday & Thursday)
Who: Individuals and Small Groups
Age requirement: Volunteers under 18 must have a parent/guardian with them.
Job Description: Volunteers help provide maintenance in the garden of 15 raised beds. Maintenance activities may include weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting and washing produce. The garden is mostly open, with little shade. Please be mindful that it can be windy, sunny and hot in the summer. Shifts may be cancelled upon short notice due to inclement weather. .

Click here to learn more about how you, your family, and friends can volunteer with the Together We Grow program.

TWG in the News

Dig into your community: Brazos Valley Food Bank garden needs volunteers (KRHD)

Together We Grow program provides skills, training for the community to enter the workforce (KXXV)