Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) field coordinator Jeff Rains has been busy helping his community in Granite City, Illinois.

With the help of a group of community volunteers he organized, Rains has been planting vegetable gardens in areas hard-hit by job loss.

There are two public gardens on church and city property, that have spawned a total of 11 gardens around the Granite City area.  The rules of the gardens are very simple.  If someone needs some of the vegetables, they are urged to take them. 

Volunteers do the planting, cultivating, and harvesting as necessary. While it was predicted that the gardens migt be vandalized, instead, the gardens are respected and well-used. 

Next year the group plans to use an abandoned greenhouse to begin growing plants from seed, to use in the gardens.  A number of Granite City donors have been paying for the plants in an effort to give back to the community.