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COURTESY OF JOSE GERMAN-GOMEZ
HE FOSTERSASENSEOF COMMUNITY . German-Gomez says the NEEC is educating the community on environmental safety and food production through free webinars and workshops at the beginning of each growing season . Additionally , more volunteers come to the gardens each year to help maintain them and to learn about proper gardening practices .
“ We have volunteers coming almost every day during the week to work in the community garden — seniors , youth , children , everybody in the community is coming — and that is what is amazing , because everything that we are doing in Montclair is supported by Montclair residents , and it ’ s a long-term commitment ,” he says .
HE GETS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON BOARD . In October 2020 , German-Gomez spearheaded a local Free Little Pantry movement , in which volunteers stock free-standing cabinets with free food . To address food insecurity during COVID , five small pantries have popped up in Montclair , and one each in Clifton , Cedar Grove and Bloomfield .
The NEEC works with Montclair Mutual Aid , the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair , the Bloomfield Public Library , the First Congregational Church and other groups to install the pantries at their locations and provide food for them until they are self-sustaining .
The Rev . John Rogers of the First Congregational Church says even though donating and volunteering during a pandemic has been difficult , German-Gomez made it possible . “ I think one of the most inspiring things has been that he created avery simple and direct way for us to care for each other ,” Rogers says .
FOR ASECURE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ( Top ) Volunteers plant produce at one of NEEC ’ s community gardens . ( Above ) NEEC volunteers Lisa Faulkner , Iain Harris and Yuhayna Alkurdi at the nonprofit ’ s community garden on South Fullerton Avenue .
HE PLANS TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THE FREE LITTLE PANTRYPROJECT . German-Gomez says the pantry project is not dissipating as the pandemic subsides , and apantry in East Orange will be installed soon .
The 24-hour pantries have distributed around 12,000 pounds per month of non-perishable foods and will continue to provide for those who need it , German-Gomez says . A Lot to Grow , a nonprofit organization that promotes organic local food production , donated a greenhouse to NEEC this year , which will help extend the produce growing season another month .
HE WANTS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE NEED TO BE ECO- FRIENDLY . German-Gomez says now is the time to stop climate change and take action to stop using fossil fuels . The steps needed to protect the environment should be part of a global agenda , he says , and people can start making a difference in their own communities . ■
@ montclairmagazine MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2021
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