Pittstown , New Jersey ( CNN ) -- When Chip Paillex started a garden with his 4-year-old daughter in 2002 , he never imagined it would change the lives of thousands of people . That first year , they grew much more produce than their family could eat . Paillex did not want the excess going to waste , so he started giving it to friends and co-workers . Then he learned about others who needed it more . `` We saw a three-line article in the paper , '' Paillex remembers . `` It said , 'If you ever have extra produce , bring it down to the food pantry . Grow a row for the hungry . ' '' Paillex and his daughter donated 120 pounds of produce that year . He knew the experience would provide some good lessons for her . But it opened his eyes , too . `` At first , I thought it was just that people were hungry , '' Paillex said . `` But then I realized that people were hungry for fresh fruits and vegetables . '' Since then , Paillex has been helping to provide fresh produce for more than just his local pantry . His nonprofit , America 's Grow-a-Row , now grows and harvests fruits and vegetables for people in need all over the state . `` New Jersey , the Garden State , is known for its produce , '' said Paillex , 47 . `` ( But ) there 's tons of produce throughout this state that , unfortunately , does n't make its way to a lot of the people that are in need here . '' Spreading the wealth . Paillex started the organization from his small plot , with help from family and close friends . Every weekday for almost four years , he worked in the garden from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. before heading off to his full-time job . Then he gardened again until nightfall . In 2007 , he left his corporate job to dedicate himself full time to the nonprofit . It has grown to 49 acres of farmland and almost 4,000 volunteers . To help distribute the hundreds of thousands of pounds of produce it grows each year , the group partnered with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey . They also collect excess from other farms and supermarkets in the area . The produce is donated to food banks all over the state . `` Our goal is to get everybody in the state -- whether it be a child or an adult -- to be able to eat healthy , '' Paillex said . `` It 's not something that should be a luxury . '' When Paillex learned about food deserts -- areas in the country that do not have access to healthy , affordable food -- he and his group set up farm markets to provide free fresh produce to residents of these areas . From July to November , the group holds its free farm markets in five cities in New Jersey , including Camden and Newark . Residents also receive healthy recipes for preparing the produce . The group 's free farm markets have been a lifesaver for Imogene Thompson . Living on a fixed income , the 64-year-old had trouble getting the fresh food necessary for her health . `` I have diabetes and high blood pressure . Eating healthy is very important to me , '' she said . `` Some things that I need for my diet , a lot of times I ca n't afford , especially produce . '' Thompson now goes to the group 's farm markets in Jersey City , and things have turned around for her . `` I have lost some weight . My sugar is better controlled , and the vegetables and food is delicious , '' Thompson said . `` Without Chip , nobody around here would be eating fresh fruits and vegetables like we do . '' Little farmers . For Paillex and his group , the work is about more than just feeding people . The goal also is to educate people of all ages about where their food comes from and why it is important . Paillex said recipients also return to volunteer with the group . `` There 's a sense of community that comes out of this program , '' he said . The group 's summer youth program introduces children from New Jersey 's inner city areas to farming and healthy eating . For many of these children , it is their first time on a farm . `` They immediately are struck by the fact that food grows out of the ground , '' Paillex said . `` For them to be able to actually pull it out of the ground and harvest it and then bring it home to their families , that 's huge . '' America 's Grow-A-Row has donated almost 3 million pounds of fresh produce , which has reached roughly 140,000 people . Paillex plans to expand the program to other states . `` To be able to put fresh food on someone 's plate who 's hungry that night , '' Paillex said , `` there 's no greater feeling and no greater reward . '' Want to get involved ? Check out the America 's Grow-a-Row website at www.americasgrowarow.org and see how to help .
When Chip Paillex 's garden amassed excess produce in 2002 , he donated the extras . He soon began a nonprofit , harvesting crops for the Garden State 's less fortunate . By 2007 , he left his corporate job to dedicate himself full time to America 's Grow-a-Row . It has since grown to 49 acres of farmland and nearly 4,000 volunteers .