NAO is excited to spotlight nonprofit members, share their success stories and exciting news, and raise awareness of their mission and the impact these amazing nonprofits make in our communities.
Kindness Farm, located in Portland, joined NAO last year and we are excited to feature their organization this month.
Founded only four years ago, Kindness Farm is an educational, regenerative, community farm led by immigrants, refugees, and queer individuals located in southeast Portland, east of I-205. The farm proactively tackles persistent health and well-being disparities in the community by offering regenerative land care and high-quality, hands-on environmental education for both children and adults. Additionally, the farm ensures access to healthy food for those facing food insecurity and promotes meaningful, innovative change towards a more sustainable and community-oriented food production approach in our local food system.
We had the pleasure of catching up with Founder Lou Lé and learning more about the growth of Kindness Farm!
With a mission dedicated to aiding various communities—such as those with low incomes, immigrants and refugees, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA2+ community—Lou proudly reported that, in the last four years, Kindness Farm has educated an incredible 5,204 children, adults, and seniors in environmental and regenerative practices. Moreover, the farm engaged a large, committed community to create a resilient, healing space with 25,192 volunteer hours. Kindness Farm has cultivated 25,838 pounds of healthy, nutrient-rich produce, providing 100,983 meals, produce boxes, and free food pantries, feeding 19,143 individuals.
Last fall, several NAO staff members had the opportunity to volunteer on the farm, helping with the final harvest of the season that was sent to New Avenues for Youth, an organization supporting young people experiencing homelessness on the street of Portland. Our team had a fantastic time both learning about Kindness Farm’s unique farming methods and engaging volunteer management styles. We can attest that volunteering at Kindness Farm not only allows you to give back to the community but also provides a wonderful learning experience for you personally.
Kindness Farm’s current needs are regular monthly donations, even as little as $5 or $10. As a newer organization, predominantly funded by grants, Kindness Farm is in the process of growing their donor base and connecting with individuals who can support through larger monetary gifts. They are also eager to find supporters who believe in their mission and vision.
We express our sincere gratitude to Lou Lé for their time and for all the work that Kindness Farm does to foster community, providing meals to those in need and serving so many diverse and marginalized populations. We encourage you to say hi to Lou at the next NAO event or visit the farm to witness its impact firsthand. You can learn more about Kindness Farm by visiting https://www.thekindnessfarm.org/.