The hardest decision for Jason Brown was stepping away from the NFL. Yet, he has no regrets as he’s turned his attention toward a higher calling to become a farmer and feed his community.
“I got the pot of gold and Jason Brown was not happy. I was not fulfilled until I moved towards a life of purpose. We’re all interconnected and what good is chasing the American Dream if, in the end, you’re leaving behind all of the Americans,” Brown told AfroTech in an exclusive interview.
He continued: “Everything that you do in your life is going to affect somebody else in some way, shape, or form. So, walking away from the NFL and walking away from that portion of fame, 10 years ago, was the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life because it was a leap of faith. Looking back, now that my family has grown by leaps and bounds, we’ve made such an awesome impact in our local communities. You can’t get any better than that.”
Mission: The people of North Carolina never once wavered from Brown’s heart. Now, with his acquired experience over the years in agriculture, Brown has an opportunity to address the various food deserts largely impacting many across the state.
Brown addresses North Carolina’s food deserts: “Agriculture is a billion dollar industry for North Carolina, but yet when you take a closer look, there’s a lot of farms being grown, yet, there are food deserts rampant all throughout our state. Even though people are surrounded by farmers, farms, and agriculture, they’re still living in the middle of food deserts. So, it was an awesome opportunity for me to give back through agriculture and becoming a farmer, but making sure that as a farmer there are many things I can grow. I’m gonna make sure I’m growing some healthy fruits and vegetables, things that can be readily harvested right out of the field,” Brown explained.
First Fruits Farm
Brown’s charitable efforts are carried out on the First Fruits Farm which has already donated more than a million pounds of food, as well as the first fruits of every harvest to local families, as AfroTech previously mentioned.
View this post on Instagram
Teaming Up With Quaker To Feed Families
What’s more, Brown will be partnering with Quaker to accelerate efforts toward combating food insecurity. According to a press release, Quaker and Feeding America are looking to raise $500,000 that can support five million meals ahead of Super Bowl LVII.
“At Quaker, helping individuals and families in need gain access to warm and nutritious foods is at the heart of what we do,” said Kristin Kroepfl, vice president and chief marketing officer for Quaker Foods North America at PepsiCo, according to a press release. “We’re excited to continue our long-term partnership with Feeding America and engage NFL fans to help tackle hunger—a mission that aligns with our purpose and broader Pep+ commitments.”
How to donate: Right now, you can donate by visiting QuakerHungerClock.com through February 12, 2023, and Quakers will match every donation up to a total of $250,000.
“When you see a worthy cause, knowing every dollar that you donate can help to provide 10 meals for families in need, that’s a no-brainer. I’m thankful for partnerships like this because it is not just bringing awareness, they’re making a difference,” Brown told AfroTech.
