A Sacramento family farm transforms a backyard eggery into a community lifeline, feeding local children in need.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Sacramento family farm that began with a handful of hens in a backyard is now helping feed children in need across the community.
Dwayne & Edison’s Eggery, owned and operated by Joe Reedy, started as a way to give back, Reedy said. What began as a small family venture raising animals and teaching the next generation has grown into a thriving local egg business.
“We initially just started as wanting to give back,” Reedy said.
The eggery focuses on pasture-raised chickens, which Reedy said makes a noticeable difference in the quality and freshness of the eggs. The chickens are free to roam throughout the day, eating bugs and spending time outdoors.
“They’re having a great chicken life,” Reedy said.
The business is named after Reedy’s two sons, Dwayne and Edison. As the eggery grew, the family decided to expand its mission beyond farming and created a community program called Neighbors Nest to bring food directly to people in their own neighborhoods.
The family sets aside about 20 percent of the eggery’s profits to buy shelf-stable snacks for local children from food-insecure families, Reedy said.
“To take some of our own profits and purchase shelf-stable snacks for local children who are from really food-insecure families,” he said.
So far, the program has donated items such as peanut butter, granola bars, fruit snacks and pretzels. The focus is on foods that do not require refrigeration and are easy to store and distribute.
Reedy said they also try to choose snacks that children enjoy, but that may not typically be available through traditional food programs.
“It can really make a difference to have something you love come when you come home after a bad day or something like that,” he said.
For Reedy and his family, the effort comes down to supporting the community they are part of.
“We’re all just a community, so we’re just doing it for the children in our community,” he said.
There are several ways to purchase eggs from Dwayne & Edison’s Eggery or to donate to the Neighbors’ Nest program. Click here for more information.
Watch more on ABC10: How a Sacramento family farm is feeding its community