For 10 years, NECC students have been getting their hands in the soil at Community Harvest Project (CHP) in Grafton, MA. This season, 17 students volunteered at the farm from June through September. 

Students assist with planting, weeding, harvesting, washing produce, sorting, packaging, weighing, and assembling boxes. The harvest included lettuce, eggplant, shallots, summer squash, zucchini, and peppers. 

CHP grows more than 40 varieties of vegetables at the farm and distributes more than 250,000 pounds of fresh produce and food boxes to the community. CHP partners with 27 organizations across Central and Eastern Massachusetts that distribute the produce to families in need, older adults, and veterans. Through these partnerships, more than 60,000 people access fresh produce each year. The work NECC students complete at the farm helps to prepare these items for distribution and directly impacts members of the community. 

This season, our Vocational Department worked with five teams and cohorts to coordinate activities students would enjoy, with teachers and job coaches joining them at the farm. 

Brad Millar, Volunteer Coordinator at CHP, was always welcoming and engaging with our students. On the last Friday at the farm, September 12, he walked students through the day’s assignments, including assembling boxes and cutting flowers. Students also cut the flowers they had planted at the beginning of the season. 

“Having the NECC students at the farm brings so many smiles to our faces!” says Meghan Person, Development Manager at CHP. “CHP fosters an inclusive environment that encourages everyone to experience the joy of working in the soil and coming together as a community to nurture and grow produce that will help our neighbors.” 

We’re grateful for the decade partnership with CHP and for the important work opportunities they continue to offer our students.