Phoenix Neighborhood Farm Receives Huge Donation From Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres and Sprouts have teamed up to give one Phoenix community farm a huge monetary donation, reported AZ Family.

The farm, called Spaces of Opportunity, is what some call 'an oasis in a food desert.'

Rodney Machokoto, said, "You can pretty much grow anything." Machokoto's seeds will not only feed his family, but others as well. He said that it is incredibly important for people to know how to grow their own food, because of what he went through in his home country of Zimbabwe.

Machokoto said, "We had one of the worst economic crises in the 21st century, and we saw out shelves go bare." This is pretty similar to what stores across the Valley saw during the height of the coronavirus pandemic when all of the food shelves were emptied.

"Here in the US, most of my colleagues don't know what to do with the seed," Machokoto said.

That's where Spaces of Opportunity comes in. The 18-acre farm is a partnership with many faces, including Roosevelt School District and The Desert Botanical Garden. The farm was built because South Phoenix is in a food desert.

Perla Garcia, a Spaces of Opportunity volunteer, explained what being "in a food desert" means. Garcia said, "Meaning we don't have as many grocery stores as Mesa or Scottsdale. the lifespan from people living on the east side compared to our communities is a ten-year difference, and this has to do with out nutrition."

Ellen and Sprouts have vowed to donate $100,000 for the efforts at the farm so that individuals can continue to grow food in the food desert.

To donate to Spaces of Opportunity, click here.

Photo: Getty Images