About 25 Eversource employees traded their regular workday for weeding, harvesting, and greenhouse chores in Dorchester on Thursday morning as they joined youth interns and staff from The Food Project for a second consecutive year of volunteer work.
The employees spent the morning working alongside The Food Project team on its urban farm, tending growing areas and helping harvest produce while also pitching in on end-of-season work in the greenhouse.
The return engagement follows a similar volunteer effort last August, when Eversource employees spread out among several of The Food Project’s Dorchester growing sites to harvest crops, clear the greenhouse, and prepare garden beds for neighborhood residents.
Jim Hunt, Eversource’s executive vice president and a longtime Dorchester resident, said the company sees the relationship as a natural extension of its ties to the neighborhood.
“Dorchester has deep roots for Eversource, and we’re proud to continue our partnership with The Food Project and support the important work they do in this community,” Hunt said.
“Their commitment to expanding access to fresh, healthy food, supporting young people, and building stronger communities makes this a natural partnership for us,” he added. “These are our neighbors, and our employees value the opportunity to get out of the office, work together and give back to the communities we serve.”
The Food Project has operated in Massachusetts since 1991, bringing together young people and adults to grow fresh produce while working to improve access to healthy, affordable food. Its Boston operations include farms and growing spaces in Dorchester and Roxbury and programs that give young people hands-on experience in agriculture, food systems, and community service.
Last year, Food Project staff told the Reporter that large groups of volunteers can be particularly useful during labor-intensive portions of the growing season. In August 2025, Eversource workers helped remove tomato vines and clean the Dudley Street greenhouse during its seasonal shutdown, filled raised beds on North Avenue, and harvested crops at the organization’s Langdon Street farm.
This year’s volunteers again worked directly alongside The Food Project’s youth interns and staff, with the late-summer timing putting them to work on both harvesting and preparing growing spaces for the next stage of the season.
For Eversource, Hunt said, returning for a second year underscores a relationship the company hopes to continue.
“These are our neighbors,” he said, “and our employees value the opportunity to get out of the office, work together and give back to the communities we serve.”
