Kim Hines

Kim Hines is the director of the 501c3 nonprofit organization Augusta Locally Grown. ALG is dedicated to growing the local foods movement throughout the Central Savannah River Area. The organization started and now manages several farmers markets; creates educational opportunities for people to learn to grow their own food; teaches youth cooking classes; organizes youth gardening programs; connects beginner farmers to local resources and markets; runs a competitive high school intern program; coordinates volunteer work days and “crop mobs” at local farms; connects chefs and culinary schools to local farmers; and helps to manage a wide range of community events focused on good, clean food. These events include Camp Veggie Truck, done in partnership with the GRU School of Medicine, and the BenderDinker, a unique kayaking, music and local foods benefit event on the Savannah River.

In 2011, Augusta Locally Grown began a long-term project to address health disparities and fair access to local foods for low-income urban families in one of Augusta’s inner-city neighborhoods. In partnership with dozens of community organizations, this effort is now known as G.R.O.W. Harrisburg (“Growing R Own Wellness.”) It includes a SNAP doubling program and a Fruit & Veggie Rx program, both with Wholesome Wave Georgia. The “Hundred in Harrisburg” project installs raised beds for.residents and matches master gardener mentors with beginner growers. Plans are underway to establish a neighborhood-based urban farming education center along the historical Augusta Canal.

Kim has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 30 years. For her work with Augusta Locally Grown, Kim was honored as one of “26 Women to Watch” in Augusta in 2013 and with a “Women of Excellence Award” by the Augusta Interfaith Coalition in January 2014. With a master’s degree in social ethics and philanthropy, Kim’s academic passion is civil society and all the iterations of community engagement that lead to it. At this moment, helping to usher along the local foods movements in Augusta, Georgia, is her way of bringing that knowledge to life.