Katie Stagliano: The Girl Who Grew More Than Just a Cabbage

Have you ever heard of a single cabbage feeding 275 people? No? Well, let me introduce you to Katie Stagliano, a girl with a big heart and an even bigger cabbage—literally! Her story is one of those feel-good tales that remind us that even the smallest actions can make the biggest difference. In fact, Katie was only nine years old when she did something so extraordinary that it grew into a nationwide movement.

Who is Katie Stagliano?

Katie was your average kid living in Summerville, South Carolina. That is until one day, a small school gardening project set her on a path that would change thousands of lives. At the age of nine, she brought home a cabbage seedling as part of a school gardening project. Little did she know, this small plant was about to grow into something much bigger—not just in size but in impact.

“Every single day after school, I would diligently tend to my seedling, watering and weeding around it with great care,” Stagliano recalls. “I was constantly worried about the deer getting to it, so I took matters into my own hands and constructed a protective cage using wooden posts and chicken wire.”

The Cabbage That Started It All

When Katie took her cabbage seedling home, she planted it and gave it all the care in the world. As time passed, it kept growing… and growing… and growing! By the time it was fully grown, it weighed almost 40 pounds. Most kids might have marveled at their giant veggie and called it a day, but not Katie. She decided to donate the cabbage to a local soup kitchen, where it ended up feeding 275 people.

Just think about that for a second—275 people fed from one cabbage.

That moment was like a spark for Katie. She realized that if one cabbage could do that much good, what could a whole garden do?

And Then Came Katie’s Krops

That’s when Katie’s Krops was born—a nonprofit with a mission to encourage other kids to grow vegetable gardens and donate the harvest to feed people in need. She wanted kids across the U.S. to grow their own vegetable gardens and donate the harvests to help fight hunger. She started with her own backyard garden and then expanded the idea into a nationwide initiative. Today, there are Katie’s Krops gardens across the country, all run by kids who are planting seeds and changing lives.

It Wasn’t Always Easy

Like any great story, Katie’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. As a young girl with a big dream, she had to learn how to manage the logistics of running a nonprofit, rally volunteers, and keep the gardens growing (literally and figuratively).

There were crops that didn’t survive, funding issues, and, of course, the learning curve of growing a movement from the ground up (literally). But if there’s one thing Katie has shown the world, it’s that she doesn’t give up.

Countless people have been fed through these gardens, and even more young people have been inspired to get involved in their own communities.

The Impact of Katie’s Krops

Fast forward to today, and Katie’s efforts have been nothing short of amazing. Since 2009, Katie’s Krops has grown and distributed over 500,000 pounds of fresh produce to individuals in need across the nation. In October 2022, the organization marked 12 years of the Katie’s Krops Dinners, a commendable feat of providing over 50,000 meals to neighbors in need.

Want to Know the Full Story?

Katie’s journey is just one of many stories about incredible young heroes quietly making a huge impact. If you’re curious to hear more about Katie’s experiences and the people who supported her along the way, then you’re in for a treat. We’ve captured her story—along with many others—in our book Unfold the Stories of Unsung Heroes. If you love feel-good stories about people making a difference, grab Part 1 and 2 on Amazon today.

Don’t wait – start reading today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2QL4VTZ

Enjoy the read!

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