Nourishing the North Shore: Cultivating Community from the Ground Up (NNS) is a food equity program started by three local women on a mission to ensure equal access to fresh healthy produce to those most in need in our community. Last summer NNS grew, collected and distributed over 1,500 pounds of produce to low income families and seniors, and we are fired up to bring more fruits and veggies, garden workshops and cooking demos to folks next summer. Unique collaborations and partnerships with Opportunity Works, Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, YWCA of Greater Newburyport and the City of Newburyport have been the key to our success. Thanks to our partners and local support we will be adding three garden sites, kitchen gardens at public housing for families and a hot house for the upcoming growing season! With funds from the Innovation Award we will be able to start up a volunteer gleaning program with local farms, purchase scales, harvest totes and set up wash sinks and tables at our hot house and Emery Garden sites. This will enable us to distribute more healthy food, rescue produce and support local farmers.