Katie Stagliano graduated from the College of Charleston in May of 2020 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Leadership, Change, and Social Responsibility. After graduating from college, Kate moved back to Summerville and began working full-time for her non-profit, Katie’s Krops. She is excited to begin this new chapter in her life and grow her dream to end hunger, one vegetable garden at a time!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family is amazing and so incredibly supportive! My mom Stacy is the president of Katie’s Krops and one of the kindest and most caring people I know. My younger brother John Michael has his own organization called Home Again which helps individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness furnish their homes; he has the biggest heart! My dad John has always supported my brother and I 100% in everything that we do. I feel so blessed to have such a great family.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I am the founder and chief executive gardener of Katie’s Krops. Katie’s Krops is a national non-profit that begin here in Summerville in 2008. The mission of Katie’s Krops is to empower youth to start and maintain vegetable gardens and donate the harvest to those in need, as well as assist and inspire others to do the same. Katie’s Krops has 100 youth-run vegetable gardens across the United States where the produce is donated to feed those in need. We also do bi-weekly meal distributions at Summerville Baptist Church where we take produce from our gardens and use it to create hot, healthy, fresh, and free meals for anyone in need in the community. We serve between 500-650 meals at our distributions. What I love most about what I do is the incredible individuals and families that I am able to connect with and help. These individuals and families have become like a second family to me and mean the world to me. I am so grateful to be able to do what I love everyday and make a positive impact in our community!
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I love the Celtic Knot, Five Loaves Cafe, and Opa Cafe! They have some of the most delicious food and most amazing staff.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in Summerville since I was 8 years old.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
If I could travel anywhere in the world it would be to England. I have always wanted to go ever since I was a little girl.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My favorite TV shows are Friends, Grey’s Anatomy, and Criminal Minds. My favorite movie is Dirty Dancing.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The advice I would give to people is to follow your heart and a cause you are passionate about, because you never know what can grow from just one thing. When I was 9 years old, a 40 lb cabbage changed my life forever and set me down a path of service.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I would love to go skydiving!
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
My go to musician is Harry Styles.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would have wine and charcuterie with Harry Styles at Accent on Wine. I’ve always been a huge fan of his, and I admire how he is unapologetically himself always.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
My favorite thing about Summerville is how kind, caring, and involved our whole community is. Everyone is always looking out for one another and helping out in any way that they can. Summerville will always feel like home; I can’t imagine any other town that would wholeheartedly embrace a nine year old and her dream to end hunger like Summerville did. I feel so blessed to live here.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In 5 to 10 years, I will still have my dream job, running my non-profit Katie’s Krops. I would also like to have a wonderful family and a home of my own.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
When I was 10 years old, I designed a toothbrush that sings a song about water conservation while you brush your teeth! The toothbrush was marketed and sold by Dr. Fresh.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
One of the most beautiful places I have ever been is Aspen Colorado.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month is June. I love the beginning of summer! My favorite holiday is Christmas. And the best day on the calendar is probably June 21st. I love how long it is light outside, and it’s the official start to summer!
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
I would rate garden fresh veggies a 10 out of 10. You really can’t beat picking a cherry tomato or a blueberry and eating it right there on the spot. They just taste so much better fresh!
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
The individuals and families that I help with Katie’s Krops inspire me to be better everyday. They are some of the most amazing, kind, and caring people, and they are truly like a second family to me. I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate triumphs with them and support them through hard times.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
One of my favorite smells is sunscreen because it reminds me of summer and growing up doing summer swim team. I also love the smell of the ocean.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Warm, safe, and loving
