Growing a Healthier Future: How Carversville Farm Is Nourishing Temple Students

“We decided, here’s an opportunity to give back that falls within our focus areas of addressing food insecurity and improving the lives of young people, all at a place that means so much to us,” says Tony, who met Amy during their time as Temple undergraduates.

The partnership is a natural extension of a commitment to fighting hunger that began with what they saw firsthand, according to Amy. “It became apparent to us early on that food was a driving need in Philadelphia—it was pretty horrific,” she says, recalling their time living in the city after college.

While the couple note that for years they contributed their time and funds to organizations fighting food insecurity, they felt there was more they could do.

“We wanted to be more in charge of our impact,” says Tony. “For years we’d talked about starting a nonprofit farm, and when the opportunity presented itself, we went for it. The need was clear, so we figured, let’s see if we can address it.”

Carversville Farm, located in Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania, roughly 50 miles from their alma mater, turned out to be the solution they were looking for. In 2013, Tony and Amy set out to build a working farm of the highest ecological and quality standards, establishing Carversville Farm Foundation to grow chef-quality food, all for donation to feed communities in need.

“It’s a simple concept: the best restaurants in the city source food from farms, just like ours, so they can have predictable, high quality food. We offer that same level of support to our clients, delivering goods just like we would to a high quality restaurant, except our partners are soup kitchens, food pantries and homeless shelters,” Tony says, noting that what sets their inventory apart is that products aren’t at the end of their life, instead, they’ve been grown specifically for their partners.

“It’s great that people get mac and cheese, but they need fresh eggs and fresh vegetables,” adds Amy. “Food should have flavor and vitamins and minerals, and we believe it’s important for all people to have access to that.”

But for Tony and Amy, it was more than the marriage of their interests that set the Hub apart.

“From my perspective, this has got to be one of the more comprehensive facilities to support students at any university,” says Tony.

“It’s a game changer,” adds Amy. “To be able to support young adults, who may not be getting this type of support anywhere else, that’s huge. It does more than feed them—it helps them feel nourished and supported, and that means more than anyone can know.”

The way they see it, it takes a village to care for hungry people, and Tony and Amy hope that what they’ve set into motion doesn’t stop with them. After all, as Tony notes, the greatest form of flattery is imitation—and they’d be thrilled to share what they’ve learned to help other farm owners in other metropolitan hubs amplify their impact.

Until then, Tony and Amy look forward to building on the early success of the Essential Needs Hub, and continuing their work to nourish the future at the very place their own story started.

“Temple is a place where young people are receiving an education—a roadmap to help them rise above their situations and achieve even more,” says Tony.

“It couldn’t be more aligned with what we try to do at the Foundation.”