Over these past few weeks, I have been volunteering and doing various things for the Concrete Jungle organization. The first task I was asked to work on involved their social media platforms and designing a new template for them. In an effort to highlight produce that is underutilized, they asked me to create a template for a new weekly post called “Fruit Fact Friday.” The template consists of three slides: the first being where I can present the title and picture of the fruit, the second slide provides the fun fact, and the third highlights a picture of them actively harvesting the fruit. First, I came up with three different template designs to ensure I was providing them with the exact template they are looking for. I then emailed them all to the Communications Director; where she was able to look through them and pick her favorite. I am now in the last stages of finalizing the template, using the corrections I was given. Once it is finalized, they will be able to use this template for every fruit they harvest and post something every Friday to keep engagement up!

Along with the social media side, I have also been helping in their volunteer opportunities. The first one Viraj and I have done has been the farm days. Concrete Jungle has an area of farm land right in Atlanta where they grow apple trees, pear trees, guava-pineapple trees, various vegetables, and much more. On the first farm day, we helped to de-weed the vegetable beds and the various fruit trees. I was told that this would help the trees and veggies to thrive. The second volunteer task we have been doing has been going to a local farmer’s market, Freedom Farmers Market, and collecting left over produce. On these days, we first head to Intown Collaborative Ministries, a local soup kitchen, and pick up a wagon for the produce and “Concrete Jungle” aprons. From there, we head to the farmer’s market and go around to different vendors with fresh produce. We start off by introducing ourselves and what we are there for. We then ask if they would like to donate any of their produce that will go bad soon to a local soup kitchen. Collecting all the produce we get; we then return to Intown Collaborative Ministries where we weigh the produce we got and deliver it to them to give out at their next soup kitchen drive! I have loved working with Concrete Jungle so far and learning more about this organization and their mission!