Volunteers form Bayer and the Red Bulls volunteer on a Newark Farm.
NEWARK -- Digging in to lend a helping hand sometimes means bringing a shovel.
Volunteers from Bayer and the Red Bulls came to the Greater Newark Conservancy Hawthorne Farm to work on the 2.5 acre farm that has an orchard and more than 200 plots for local farming.
"It's helping feed people," said Ray Kerins a senior VP for Bayer as he wheeled mulch around the farm.
"We are helping provide back to the community fresh fruit and vegetables to schools and pantries."
Bayer gives employees two days a year off from work to help in the community, and they had more volunteers for this project than they could handle, Kerlins said.
On the day after Labor Day under a hot sun, more than 70 worked to better the farm.
"It's a big day for us," said Marc de Grandpre, General Manager of the Red Bulls, as he helped fill raised growing beds with soil.
Twenty front office workers joined in, some down on their hands and knees pulling weeds.
"Eleven days of service in honor of Sept. 11, a way of giving back to the community," added de Grandpre.
"It's a tremendous help," said Michele Robinson of the Greater Newark Conservancy.
"Pulling weeds and spreading mulch is getting us ready for fall planting. Our two farms (Hawthorne Hawks Healthy Harvest Farm and Court Street Urban Farm) yielded 65-70,000 pounds of fruit and produce" said Robinson.
Ed Murray may be reached at emurray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Ed on Twitter at @EdMurrayphoto. Find NJ.COM on Facebook.