GRANBY, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - With Thanksgiving approaching and SNAP benefits in limbo, one local farm is offering free produce to struggling families. When Red Fire Farm heard about what many people in western Mass were going to go through, they wanted to do something about. They “produced” a solution to help those in a food insecurity situation get what they need.

“She has five children, and they really need the fresh fruits and vegetables,” Holyoke’s Kerry Nolan stopped by Red Fire Farm to get some produce for her daughter and grandchildren, who rely on SNAP benefits.

Recently, she learned of a good opportunity at Red Fire Farm, “I really appreciate when the communities give back because it’s horrible if they’re going to wind up wasting it all (the produce).”

Beginning on Wednesday, Red Fire Farm opened a pop-up free produce shed to give freshly grown produce to those who are either on SNAP or HIP benefits any anyone facing food insecurity.

Farm employee Nick Coucke told Western Mass News there is no more important time to give back than now, “Everyone needs food. It’s a basic human right, and we think it’s our responsibility to help our community out.”

Red Fire Farm mentioned on Facebook that even with the Commonwealth releasing benefits at the end of the week, there is still need when it comes to funding shortages and increased costs.

Baskets of food can be found both in and outside of the shed.

“We’ve got kale, we’ve got lettuce, we’ve got radishes, we’ve got potatoes and onions. Basically, all of the stuff we grow throughout fall and winter that we have in excess, and we’re able to give back to our community,” said Coucke.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Nolan said it’s no better time for the farm to do a generous deed like this, “with the SNAP issue and everything, more people are probably looking at getting their meat and their carbs and stuff like that instead of fresh fruit and vegetables.”

Now it’s after 5 p.m., so the free produce pop-up shed is closed for now. However, it will be open again next Wednesday and the Wednesday after that from noon to 5 p.m.

If you want to help, the farm says you can drop off non-perishables at this location during any of those Wednesdays.

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