Nonprofit farm and food pantry faces closure

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - It may look like your typical community garden, but a mini farm nestled on Decatur Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn is saving lives.

Robert and Devanie Jackson created this urban farm in 2004. For this married couple of 34 years, it is their way of giving back to the community they came from. The full name is Brooklyn Rescue Mission Urban Harvest Center and its full intention is to provide free, local produce to thousands of hungry Brooklyn families. Soon though, these gates could close for good.

"We had a shortfall of funding to our nonprofit. We are trying to raise funds. The bank is willing to take a payment, a one-time payment, to be able to bring us out of arrears," Reverend Robert Jackson said. "That's what we are fundraising for, so we can keep farming and keep feeding folks."

In December, the Jacksons started a GoFundMe site to save the farm. They're hoping to raise $28,000 to maintain their various programs. Right now, they rely mostly on donations, but for reasons unbeknownst to them less money came in this year.

The farm needs to raise money by the end of this month. The Jacksons feel hopeful that generous people who hear their story will step up to help them continue to curb hunger in their community.