Hunger Caucus co-chairs Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, fourth from right first row, and Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-20th, gathered with Reps. Dan Moul, R-91st and Sens. Jay Costa, D-43rd, Pat Stefano, R-32nd, and James Malone, D-36th, and representatives from the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, Central PA Food Bank, Downtown Daily Bread, and the Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners for the 15th opening season of the Capitol Hunger Garden. Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121st, who also participated, is not pictured. Submitted photo

Pennsylvania Hunger Caucus co-chairs, state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, and Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Bellevue, spoke Wednesday, May 7, at the 15th opening season of the Capitol Hunger Garden.

Alongside Vogel and Kinkead, remarks were also offered by Peter Flynn, president of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association; Mieshia Jackson, director of operations for Downtown Daily Bread; state Rep. Dan Moul, R-Hanover, minority chair of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee; and Joe Arthur, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

Established in 2008, the legislative Hunger Caucus seeks to raise awareness for hunger. The most visible of the caucus’s initiatives is the Capitol Hunger Garden, which is a joint effort of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Last year’s Hunger Garden yielded over 727 pounds of produce consisting of various vegetables and herbs.

Plants for this year’s garden were supplied by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association. Volunteers from the Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will assist with maintaining the garden until the season ends in early October.

Vogel’s district includes Adams, Cranberry, Forward, Jackson, Lancaster and Middlesex townships and Callery, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia and Zelienople.