BRUNSWICK — Molly Cooper remembers raising money for hunger relief for one of her birthday parties growing up. As an adult, she has spent her career working for nonprofits and summer camps. So, the opportunity to take on a role at the intersection of food security and outdoor education was a no-brainer.

In March, Cooper became the first paid executive director at Growing to Give, a nonprofit farm in Brunswick that provides produce to organizations that help people facing food insecurity. As Maine enters its growing season, Cooper said she’s excited to get into the workflow of the farm and help expand its reach even further.

“Food is something that everybody needs, and everybody should have access to the food that they need to keep themselves going and keep themselves healthy,” Cooper said. “So when this position opened up, I was like, ‘OK, I have to jump on this.'”

With Cooper’s hiring, the small nonprofit operation has grown to a staff of six. But hundreds of volunteers help to plant, harvest and keep the farm running.

Last year, the team donated more than 18,500 pounds of fresh, organic produce to organizations that provide food directly to Mainers. Since Growing to Give’s launch in 2017, it has produced roughly 100,000 meals.

Growing to Give works closely with food banks and pantries, including the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and Good Shepherd Food Bank. Nonprofit partners transport produce from the Brunswick farm to six counties, all the way up to Aroostook, Cooper said.

Christine Sloan, Growing to Give’s board president, said in a prepared statement that the organization is “thrilled to welcome Molly as our new executive director.”

“This is an exciting moment of growth for the organization. Growing to Give was founded 10 years ago by volunteers who gave their time, professional expertise and leadership skills to cultivate community and gardens to feed neighbors in need,” Sloan said. “Volunteerism remains at the heart of the work.”

A native of central Maine, Cooper previously led education efforts at Freeport’s Wolfe’s Neck Center, another functioning farm nonprofit. There, she designed a partnership with Regional School Unit 5 to get kids outside during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She brings that experience to Growing to Give, which regularly hosts student groups from local schools, including the Maine Coast Waldorf School and Brunswick’s public schools.

This summer, the nonprofit plans to break ground on a playground at the farm to help make the space welcoming for families.

“It gives the adults the chance to step away and do the volunteer work they want to do, (and) gives the kids a safe place to be on the farm,” Cooper said.

With initiatives like the playground project and fun events coming this summer, it’s an exciting time to start working at the farm, Cooper said.

First up is Open Farm Day on May 16, a day for those interested in volunteering to get a tour of the farm and learn about all the available opportunities.

Then, the organization’s annual fundraiser — the Farmyard Jam — is on July 25. The event features local bands, food trucks and activities for kids and adults alike. The popular party has drawn more than 600 people in past years, Cooper said.

“It’s a chance to get people here to be a community and have fun together,” she said.

For more information on Growing to Give, including information on how to donate and volunteer, visit growingtogive.farm.

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