As she was completing her junior year at Maryland’s Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Madisson Tully began exploring ideas for a summer project that would involve her family and friends and benefit the community. Fortunately, she was introduced to the Capital Area Food Bank and after touring the facility and talking with the food bank’s garden educator, Abbie Steiner, Madisson decided to start a garden in her backyard and donate everything she grew to the food bank.
As word of her garden spread among her friends, they began contributing to Madisson’s collection of fresh produce. With their help throughout the summer, Madisson has been loading a substantial quantity of fruits and vegetables into the trunk of her car and delivering it to the food bank twice a week.
“It’s very upsetting,” she says. “It’s sad, because kids my own age don’t have anything to eat. So my community has really helped me help so many different kids and families, not just kids alone, but everybody put food on their table and help get them through the day.”
When Madisson’s garden recently attracted the attention of News Channel 8’s Leon Harris, she was featured on his show, Harris’ Heroes. “It’s made me open my eyes a little bit more and not live in my own little bubble,” she says.
Madisson, the Capital Area Food Bank thanks you and so do the people we serve.