This story was originally published on Civil Eats.

When COVID-19 closed New York City schools, Tony Hillery grew troubled about the fact that food and housing-insecure children were largely relying on pre-packaged meals for sustenance. As executive director of Harlem Grown, a nonprofit that serves youth through mentoring and teaching about urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition, Hillery wanted to provide the neediest children in the community with a way to access fresh food during the pandemic.

“So, I reached out