April 26, 2023
Quiet on the Set! Lights! Action! Yes...., You are looking at a videographer with the United Way of Henderson County along with several of our pantry volunteers. UWHC is in the process of producing a short community impact video highlighting some funded partners. Our pantry operates on the MANNA neighbor shopping model which they wanted to highlight. We offer neighbors the opportunity to shop, using a grocery cart, to choose from a variety of foods within specific categories. Thank you to our volunteers, Carol R., Carol C., Jeff, and Martha who shopped, distributed meat, milk, and eggs, and helped with carry out.
Another eventful week in the garden as beet seeds were planted in the hoop house on Thursday. On Friday our two bee hives were installed. The bees are native honey bees and will aid in pollinating our garden. A group of energetic middle school students, "Faith Alive" from North and South Carolina, worked Saturday in the garden. The collards and lettuce are very closed to harvesting.
On Saturday we welcomed 124 families representing 145 individuals and registered seven new families. City Bakery donated loaves of bread. Other donated items were from Bright Farms-lettuce, Ingles Panera, and Bimbos-bread, Wal-Mart and Big Lots, misc items, Flavor-First - tomatoes and peppers, and MilkCo-milk. Friday, our volunteers stocked the shelves with purchased items from MANNA and Sav-Mor (canned goods, milk, and eggs). Other produce this week included onions, cabbage, zucchini, carrots. and potatoes.
On behalf of the executive committee, thank you to our volunteers and our area churches, civic groups, local merchants, and families for all you do to feed our community helping to reduce food insecurity. We thank you for your food and monetary donations. We are able to feed our neighbors 3 and 1/2 days of food or 11 meals.
Plant in the Hoophouse Thursday at 4pm
It might rain on Thursday, April 27, but not in the new hoophouse. Join us to plant 300 tomato and pepper plants, most in the protected raised beds.
JOIN DOUG IN THE GARDEN AT 10 A.M. SATURDAY for an hour or so of planting cucumbers and yellow squash. it’s time to crank up the summer garden!
Lutheridge Weekend Program Works at LAF
Last Saturday, twenty middle schoolers and adult leaders who were at Lutheridge for a “Faith Alive” weekend, prepared rows for summer vegetables and learned about the LAF ministry. Students also heard from Dehlia and Carlos from Terra Fertil, a local Hispanic farm co-op. Terra Fertil’s hoophouse for starting vegetables is adjacent to LAF.
Prayer in the Garden
Thanks to Father J. Clarkson from Calvary Episcopal who joined us Thursday evening in the garden and who closed our work session with prayer. Prayer is integral to our work, We pray in thanksgiving for the opportunity to join in God’s ongoing creative work in the world, and for marginalized people, some of whom we serve by providing fresh produce to the Calvary Food Pantry.
Do you want some alone time in the garden?
A couple of people have expressed interest in working alone in the garden because of its meditative qualities. You are always welcome to come to the LAF garden to walk, weed, or sit. You can also walk the labyrinth adjacent to the pantry and walk through the beautiful graveyard. If you want a specific task for your alone time, text Doug, 828 8089639 and he can give you suggestions.
