James Washington of the Steelers shows his support for Pittsburgh’s urban nonprofit that helps feed others – WPXI

PITTSBURGH – Steelers wide receiver James Washington recently took the time to show his support for a local farming effort, but not in a place you’d probably think of farming.

Washington has partnered with Grow Pittsburgh and Braddock Farms, an urban nonprofit farming organization that teaches people how to grow food.

“All of the products here are actually sold here in Braddock, so it really helps the community and gives back to the local community here,” Washington said.

Braddock is considered a food desert, which means there is no grocery store within walking distance. Robert Gray of Grow Pittsburgh told Channel 11, “This means people normally have to take a bus or have transportation to get to the grocery store. And so being able to sell products in that community means that people don’t have to go far.

The farm also has a youth market program. 20 local teens are able to grow food, explore food justice issues, and work at farm stalls in Homewood and Braddock, all of which wowed Washington.

He said, “If I were a kid I would think, you know, it’s cool because some kids might think it’s not cool to do that. But at the end of the day, when you think about it, you are actually helping other people and providing food for people. So at the end of the day you are kind of a hero.

Washington spent hours working his day on the farm his family owned and bought his own farm in the last offseason.

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