Student gardening initiative in Middlesboro 

Students and their families are being encouraged to learn to grow their own food in Middlesboro. The gardening initiative is part of a charitable grant Crater of Hope, Inc. received recently.

“A huge thank you to the Foundation of Appalachian Kentucky for their charitable grant in the amount of $750 to Crater of Hope, Inc.,” said Jeannie Allen, director of Crater of Hope, Inc. “This grant was made possible by the Upper Cumberland Foundation’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.” 

Bell County as a whole received $1,500, which was then split between Middlesboro and Pineville, with each city receiving the total amount of $750. 

“These funds, along with a $300 matching fund from Crater of Hope, Inc. is being used to purchase over 500 tomato, cucumber, and pepper plants,” explained Allen. “These plants are being distributed to the students in Middlesboro who are being served daily through the Middlesboro school system’s feeding program.” 

Students and their families are being encouraged to take part in this initiative and if a student is not a part of the feeding program but would like to receive a plant, they can stop by Cooperative Christian Ministry on Cumberland Ave. Saturday until noon to pick up a plant. 

“A special thank you to Powell River Farms for their support and volunteers for making this possible,” Allen stated. 

The long-term goal of the gardening initiative is to have a teaching farm for students and their families.