“Faith & Food” Hunger Collaboration Initiative
Building Local Collaborations to Address Increased Local Food Needs
With the current economic crisis, local needs for basic services have increased, and our Hunger Task Force is responding through the “Faith & Food” initiative. This unique collaboration effort unites two well-known hunger relief and food access agencies, Food Gatherers (www.foodgatherers.org) and Growing Hope (www.growinghope.net), with local congregations to develop congregational gardens specifically planted to feed the hungry.
Faith & Food Press Release – May 2009
Faith & Food most wanted donated produce (Food Gatherers)
View our PHOTOS and see the Faith & Food Gardens for yourself…
The Big Community Harvest Garden Tour highlights Faith & Food Gardens
View photos from this exciting event:
Join us for this self-guided tour of 5 garden sites that create smart, fast and sustainable ways to increase low-income people’s access to locally grown, healthy food. Visit Faith & Food congregational gardens to see for yourself how this collaboration among ICPJ, Food Gatherers, and Growing Hope is supporting congregations to grow healthy food for the hungry.
Two chances to participate: July 22, 6 – 9 p.m. or August 1, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Locations TBA, including: Faith & Food Congregational gardens, Gathering Farm at Food Gatherers Warehouse, and Edible Avalon community gardens.
Check back soon for updates on sites and topics to be presented at each site…
Thank you to all who attended the Faith & Food Hunger Collaboration Meeting on March 18th!
Over 70 community members from dozens of different congregations and organizations participated in the first Faith & Food meeting! The overwhelming interest and energy around this community initiative comes at an important time as the economic crisis continues to increase local need for food. Healthy food such as fresh produce is especially difficult to come by. Through Faith & Food, local congregations and community members are making a real difference by developing congregational gardens and donating their fresh produce to local families and individuals in need.
Download the materials from the Faith & Food meeting here:
- Faith & Food Flier
- Faith-Based-Garden-Survey-Inventory
- Food-Gatherers-Summary-of-Key-Findings (Full powerpoint now available at www.foodgatherers.org!)
- Next Steps: How can I get involved?
- Plant a Row for the Hungry – community
- Plant a Row for the Hungry – schools
Not able to make the meeting? You can still get involved! Learn how your congregation can develop its own community garden (or prepare your exisiting garden) to meet local hunger needs by reviewing the above materials (and be sure to fill out and submit the garden survey!). Please contact Grace Helms Kotre at (734) 663-1870 or gracek@icpj.net with any questions.
Hi Grace and ICPJ.
This is a great project. Even if food stamps are increased, it will probably take awhile.
Please everyone continue to pray that we will follow in the footsteps of the disciples.
We have a lot of challenges and people need to be adequately fed to take these on.
Peace, Justice,
Pat
Just a reminder, the Faith and Food Hunger Coalition needs to be linked up with the work which has begun involving the churches in Wayne County and to the east of us in places like Belleville. The focus there is on using the church and church service as a marketplace for fresh fruits and vegetables that serves the poor and hungry of a congregation and shares the bounty of back yard/home gardens among members. When the environmental and economic cost of automobile travel is taken into account, having a garden/farm market/distribution process closely associated with worship services is an ancient tradition which can serve the modern world and communities. Back when transportation to church involved the horse and buggy, that weekly community meeting provided many congregations with the opportunity to share their produce, improving both the quantity and variety of food available within the community.