Amid the pandemic, Carmel-based not-for-profit Helping Ninjas is on a mission to bring fresh organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and a means to grow food to youth and families in food insecure areas.
“Everyone deserves access to fresh food,” said Leo Berry, 11-year-old founder of Helping Ninjas and Carmel Clay Schools student. “If we all work together, we can help.”
From 2017 to date, Helping Ninjas has organized local Carmel youth to learn to grow organic gardens at schools, in after-school programs, in their backyards, in the Carmel community garden, and donated fresh produce to their community and to Second Helpings in Indianapolis.
“Food deserts are facing new hardships, and we want to help offset that,” said Lindsey Fella Berry, CEO of Helping Ninjas, “now and for future generations.”
Helping Ninjas is currently looking for youth groups, organizations, and communities who are facing food insecurity and could benefit from an organic garden of their own.
“The idea is to engage youth and to educate them on all aspects of gardening,” Fella Berry said. “From soil to seed, each plant and flower has a purpose and will continue to provide year after year. Each food item harvested becomes next year’s garden seeds.”
The gardens are a gift, there is no cost involved and all plants and supplies needed are donated by Helping Ninjas.
The youth-led Carmel not-for-profit is providing an equal opportunity to youth across the state to learn how to plant and care for a garden organically, and learn the nutritional aspects of each veggie and herb planted, how to properly pick the veggies and herbs and prepare recipes and how to save the seeds for Spring planting.
“It is important to teach our youth how to help themselves and each other,’ said Fella Berry. “And growing organic gardens does just that.”
Helping Ninjas invites all youth and families looking to give back to join their efforts. Contact info@helpingninjas.com or visit HelpingNinjas.com for more information.