Scottish Borders Council‘s unpaid work team helps grow food which is then delivered to a number of organisations in Galashiels.
Recipients include Action for Children, Cafe ReCharge, the local recovery community, nurseries and care homes.
Gemma Kerr, senior social worker for Scottish Borders Council, said: “People who have broken the law get to make a positive contribution to their community and also learn new skills that could help them find work.”
The scheme is one of several across the Borders involving people on community payback orders completing supervised unpaid work.
Since 2011, more than 12.5 million hours of supervised unpaid work have been completed across Scotland.
Kimberley Beaton, programme lead for Action for Children, said: “Our service is very grateful for all the fresh produce we access on behalf of families to then distribute out to those in need.
“Families we’re helping are often low-income or living in poverty and requiring food parcels.
“They’ve been very appreciative of fresh vegetables from the greenhouse project as often food parcels only contain tinned foods.
“As part of the project they’ve really enjoyed growing their own tomato plants – a lovely activity for parents and children to do together during school holidays.
“We’ve had lovely feedback from families such as a young person talking about the delicious dinner his mum made with the vegetables and herbs we’d dropped off which he’d helped her to prepare.”
Amy Wight, director and co-founder of Cafe ReCharge, said the vegetables have made a real difference.
Ms Wight said: “The produce we receive from the greenhouse project is hugely valuable to Cafe ReCharge.
“We operate a ‘Pay What You Can’ cafe and are able to use the fresh produce in the lunches we serve.”
She said surplus vegetables are turned into chutneys and preserves, giving volunteers experience in preparing large quantities of food.
Fresh items are also distributed through the community fridge and cupboard, improving access to healthy food for those on lower incomes.