Tom Jones used to drive past the Food Shuttle Farm every day on his way to work at Penske Logistics. One day, he finally decided to look them up on the web, and wound up volunteering, doing a little bit of everything from weeding to mowing the grass. “Basically, I did whatever Kay (Coleman) needed.”
That was in 2013. In 2014, Tom’s family sold a farm they owned in Indiana, and part of the money from that sale was given to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. That one-time gift became ongoing donations that evolved into monthly support that continues to this day. When asked why he supports the mission of the Food Shuttle, Tom says, “It’s hard to put into words. So many people don’t understand the amount of need that exists.”
Tom, fondly known as “Monday Tom” around the Food Shuttle’s Agriculture program, has expanded his volunteering routine to include Camden Street Learning Garden. He works side-by-side with staff and core volunteers, and has come to know them well. He retired from Penske Logistics in September of 2019, and now spends two days a week at the Food Shuttle Farm and two days a week at Camden Street Learning Garden. He enjoys all aspects of the work at both urban agriculture programs. Well, almost all. “I’m not a fan of harvesting,” admits Tom.
“I love the Farm,” says Tom. “Last year, they produced 53,000 pounds of produce. Eighty percent goes to Food Shuttle programs, and 20% goes to produce revenue. And Camden Street—I like the fact that it’s organic. I am an environmentalist. The idea of working with nature to produce things. I love the idea of the Food Forest—of promoting the idea of soil health.”
“One of my greatest joys,” Tom recalls,” is watching people wander into Camden Street Learning Garden” and seeing Marshall (Dietrich) send them off with cucumbers or squash or whatever is growing. Bagging up all kinds of produce and sending it out locally.”