No, this isn’t a local version of The Biggest Loser… It is an effort of a nonprofit that I volunteer with to ease hunger in the Lowcountry and discourage food waste.

The mission of Fields to Families is to help increase nutrition to the area hungry by coordinating distribution of fresh produce obtained from local gardens and farms. (We received and distributed more than 43,000 pounds of locally-grown donated produce in 2007 alone!)

On Saturday, February 9 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Earth Fare in West Ashley, Fields to Families will hold “Pounds for Prizes” to raise awareness and gather donations of fresh produce for the area hungry. Shoppers and the community at large will be encouraged to donate fresh produce and in return, will receive an entry into a drawing for prizes that have been donated by local businesses and attractions including Earth Fare, Gullah Gourmet and Magnolia Plantation among others. All produce collected during the event will be made available free of charge to the community through James Island Outreach.

Through Earth Fare’s “Friends of Earth Fare” community program, Fields to Families will be the featured organization during the month of February. Stop by to learn more about Fields to Families or visit www.fieldstofamilies.org.