PRESS RELEASE 5/18/09 (for immediate release)
Merilynne Rush, faithandfood@growinghope.net, 734-786-8401

“Faith and Food Program Helping Congregations Grow Food for the Hungry”

With grant money from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the Faith and Food Program is helping the faithful build community gardens and help feed our neighbors in need. Just two months old, the program initiated by Growing Hope, Food Gatherers, and the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice already has 17 member congregations from all over Washtenaw County. They are growing vegetables to donate to Food Gatherers for distribution to area food banks and meal programs.

“There’s a growing desire among people who utilize food distribution programs to eat healthier food,” says Eileen Spring, Executive Director of Food Gatherers. “Based on our recent Food Security Study (available at www.foodgatherers.org), we know that there is greater need and fewer resources to feed the local hungry. This program brings congregations who have a desire to help and a ready volunteer base into the solution.” With a little planning and organization, fresh-picked produce in good condition will be showing up at Food Gatherers warehouse all summer and into the fall.

Here’s how it works: Faith and Food Congregations either have a garden on-site or donate collectively from member’s home gardens. The size of the garden can vary, but 20′ by 20′ is suggested. Members grow certain items that have been requested by Food Gatherers, such as collards, squash and potatoes, and then donate at least half of their yield. The program coordinator, Merilynne Rush, works through Growing Hope to help advise and organize. Rush has visited over 10 places of worship this month with information on such things as fencing, water sources, compost, and plantings. “I get to visit the gardens and get to know all of these caring and dedicated people. It’s been a real pleasure,” says Rush. “With willing volunteers and a desire to help, we can increase people’s access to fresh, local, healthy food.”

For more information, contact Merilynne Rush, at FaithandFood@GrowingHope.net, 734-786-8401. Growing Hope is a 501c.3 non-profit organization based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, that is dedicated to helping people improve their lives and communities through gardening and healthy food access.

At this time, the Faith and Food program is not recruiting more congregations to participate this year, but we welcome inquiries about the program and are planning for next year. Following is a list of the congregations participating in 2009:
First United Methodist, Ypsilanti
Grace Fellowship, Ypsilanti
Messias Temple, Ypsilanti
Spirit of Christ Teaching Ch, Ypsilanti
St. Luke’s, Ypsilanti
Episcopal Ch of the Incarnation, Lodi Twp
Holy Faith, Saline
Beth Israel, Ann Arbor
First United Methodist, Ann Arbor

St. Andrews, Ann Arbor
St. Barnabas, Chelsea
St. Nicholas Greek Orth., Ann Arbor
St. Thomas, Ann Arbor
Shalom Community, Ann Arbor
Unitarian Universalist, Ann Arbor
Vineyard, Ann Arbor
Webster United Church of Christ, Webster Twp

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