Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted 'Fruit of Hope' Tree Planting Ceremony on Saturday, January 28, at the Promise of Peace Garden. Twenty fruit trees, donated by TXU Energy and Texas Trees Foundation were be planted at five locations: West Dallas Community Church, True Lee Missionary Baptist Church, T.R. Hoover Community Center, Jubilee Community Center, and Promise of Peace Gardens. The southern half of Dallas has been characterized as a “food desert” by the U.S.D.A. because of the scarcity of grocery stores and access to fresh foods. Planting these trees in food desert areas will provide the community with access to nutritious fruits, which will bring the community one step closer to eradicating hunger in Dallas.
After the successful Hunger Summit that Congresswoman Johnson hosted at the Dallas Farmers Market this past November in collaboration with Texas Hunger Initiative (Baylor University School of Social Work), Feed3, City Square, North Texas Food Bank and local community leaders, planting these trees will be the inaugural step of the Dallas Food Planning Association. The association consists of community leaders, non-profit organizations, elected representatives, and corporate leaders who will meet to combine resources to fight hunger in Dallas.
Volunteers from the EBJ Youth Leadership Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Southern Methodist University, community leaders and elected officials all took a hand in planting trees.
