January Volunteer Spotlight: Jon, Ronda, and Larry!

At Pitney Meadows Community Farm, we thrive because of the incredible people who share their time, talents, and passion with us. That’s why we’re excited to launch our new Volunteer Spotlight where every month, we will be featuring and celebrating the individuals who make our community so special!

Up this month, we are spotlighting Jon, Ronda, and Larry! This incredible family began their journey with Pitney Meadows in 2019. For their son Jon, who is mostly non-verbal, it was important to find meaningful community work where he could stay busy, feel productive, and be accepted for who he is… they found all of this… and more at Pitney Meadows!

This last season makes five years of volunteering at Pitney Meadows for Jon, Ronda, and Larry! “Fall 2019 was our first time at the farm, and we loved what we saw: beautiful community gardens, the fields, the setting, and the community working together.”

In 2020, they signed up for a garden plot and with the kind guidance from Joyce, they found tasks they could help with, and a place at Pitney Meadows Community Farm.

Jon finds great joy in contributing to the farm’s operations like washing trays, weighing and labeling vegetables, preparing garlic for planting (even if it’s messy!); and packing food donation boxes… “When we see Jon happily productive and enjoying these activities, it brings a joy that’s impossible to express,” Ronda shares.

Larry says, “My hope was to get Jon involved in a volunteer situation where I could help him get started and then step back to let him work more independently. This has happened because of the warmth and kindness of the staff, especially Daniel and Kendall.”

Why do they think Pitney Meadows is important? Ronda explains, “The Farm brings together so many different populations within our community (encouraging inclusivity of all people) in a beautiful environment with the mission of feeding people!”

To anyone thinking of volunteering, hear this from Ronda, Larry, and Jon…. “If you’re thinking about volunteering, you should! There are so many ways to contribute and so much to learn. We think it’s important to gain insight into our connection to the land…”

Thank you, Jon, Ronda, and Larry, for your kindness, energy, and dedication. Your family's generous spirit truly makes our farm a more vibrant and welcoming place, and your contributions are felt deeply, from the field to the heart of our community!