Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton spotlights grantee that provides free, "imperfect" local produce

Friday, August 01, 2025

Tags: Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton , Foundations

---

"Imperfect" produce that doesn’t meet grocery store standards is still perfectly good (and healthy) to eat. A Whole Community, Inc. in Wayne County near Canton has partnerships with local farms that allow the non-profit to acquire “seconds” produce at reduced costs for its Community Food Project. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton has supported the food project in recent years.

The program provides free, fresh produce to underserved individuals and families. Volunteers gather and sort the produce for delivery to low-income individuals at local food pantries, meal sites, recovery housing and more. During the 2024 harvest season (Mid-June-Mid-October), the organization served 4,707 individuals across 45 sites. It also provided recipes and tips for healthy meal preparation and food storage.

"We are thankful for our many volunteers who, year after year, faithfully donate their time and resources to support the Community Food Project," said A Whole Community CEO Karen Potter. "We are also thankful for the funding that Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton has provided for this project, which paid for supplies and a second reach-in refrigerator cooler."

Coolers are essential to the success of this program. Even with produce being picked up on Mondays and delivered on Wednesdays, adequate cooler space keeps the produce from spoiling, ensuring as little waste as possible.

Karen shared that senior residents eagerly await the weekly deliveries, often expressing appreciation. “A Whole Community, desires to fulfill God’s mandate in Isaiah 58:10, ‘Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon,'" Karen said. "As we provide nutritious food to those in need, we also deliver hope and a message that God cares about them.”

A Whole Community is a non-profit organization in Wayne County that promotes wholeness for individuals and families in the areas of financial, relational, physical, spiritual and emotional wellness.