HungerProgram News |
Volunteer
Farm In Full Operation
This is prime growing season for the Volunteer Farm of Shenandoah. And that means lots of volunteers are needed. And lots of cash
donations are needed as well. Has your church signed up yet to go help
out at the farm? If not, now's the time to step up.
The weeds are trying to take over at the farm. Competition for what little water that falls is fierce. And any nutrition in the soil is shared by all the plants, including those pesky weeds.
So how about taking a day during the week, gather a couple carloads of friends and anyone you know, and head on out to the farm. They knock off work before it gets REALLY, REALLY, hot - by noon. So anyone can do that for 4 hours!
Planting and prepping
Back in the spring lots for tender plants arrived for planting. Volunteers of all ages arrived just in time. People for day camps at Massanetta Springs and James Madison, for churches in northern Virginia and down the street in Woodstock. Everyone pitched in to get the plants in the ground. And they all did it to help feed their hungry neighbors. Those plants and the vegetables were not going to be for them. The harvest is for someone else, someone who really needs fresh, healthy veggies to stay healthy to work and learn and take care of their families.
Very soon the beans will be ready to pick. By soon
that means next week! While some have volunteered to pick those beans,
there are lots more people needed in order to get them off the vine at
just the right time. Its easy to sign up. Go to the Volunteer Farm website,
select the calendar, and pick the day you can volunteer.
Several weeks ago the Farm welcomed a couple bus loads of young volunteers, ready to help. They along with their leaders spent the morning doing some planting, picking a lot of rocks of all sizes, and pulling some of those weeds. These young people learned about helping others as well as about where the food they enjoy really comes from. Visit www.volunteerfarm.org to sign up.
This is prime growing season for the Volunteer Farm of Shenandoah. And that means lots of volunteers are needed. And lots of cash
donations are needed as well. Has your church signed up yet to go help
out at the farm? If not, now's the time to step up.The weeds are trying to take over at the farm. Competition for what little water that falls is fierce. And any nutrition in the soil is shared by all the plants, including those pesky weeds.
So how about taking a day during the week, gather a couple carloads of friends and anyone you know, and head on out to the farm. They knock off work before it gets REALLY, REALLY, hot - by noon. So anyone can do that for 4 hours!
Planting and preppingBack in the spring lots for tender plants arrived for planting. Volunteers of all ages arrived just in time. People for day camps at Massanetta Springs and James Madison, for churches in northern Virginia and down the street in Woodstock. Everyone pitched in to get the plants in the ground. And they all did it to help feed their hungry neighbors. Those plants and the vegetables were not going to be for them. The harvest is for someone else, someone who really needs fresh, healthy veggies to stay healthy to work and learn and take care of their families.
Very soon the beans will be ready to pick. By soon
that means next week! While some have volunteered to pick those beans,
there are lots more people needed in order to get them off the vine at
just the right time. Its easy to sign up. Go to the Volunteer Farm website,
select the calendar, and pick the day you can volunteer.Several weeks ago the Farm welcomed a couple bus loads of young volunteers, ready to help. They along with their leaders spent the morning doing some planting, picking a lot of rocks of all sizes, and pulling some of those weeds. These young people learned about helping others as well as about where the food they enjoy really comes from. Visit www.volunteerfarm.org to sign up.
If you are from
the Augusta County area, you know of the Valley Mission. The three words
in their logo above give a good hint at what they are about.
Shenandoah Presbytery and its churches partner with the Valley Mission through their cents-a-meal hunger offerings each quarter. The presbytery has supported this important respite for the homeless and poor for over 8 years. The Mission has grown to shelter up to 85 people in wonderfully remodeled dormitory areas.
In addition to housing an increasing number of those who are temporarily homeless, they now have a children's ministry for those in the shelter. They use games, crafts and stories to teach the children God's word. This also enables their parents to attend chapel services alone as well.
The Valley Mission also has a gardening program this summer. Located at the back of the shelter in Staunton, residents are encouraged to help with growing and harvesting fresh vegetables which are then used in their kitchen. In so doing they learn how to grow their own once they have a more permanent place to live.
Some facts of interest:
Shenandoah Presbytery and its churches partner with the Valley Mission through their cents-a-meal hunger offerings each quarter. The presbytery has supported this important respite for the homeless and poor for over 8 years. The Mission has grown to shelter up to 85 people in wonderfully remodeled dormitory areas.
In addition to housing an increasing number of those who are temporarily homeless, they now have a children's ministry for those in the shelter. They use games, crafts and stories to teach the children God's word. This also enables their parents to attend chapel services alone as well.
The Valley Mission also has a gardening program this summer. Located at the back of the shelter in Staunton, residents are encouraged to help with growing and harvesting fresh vegetables which are then used in their kitchen. In so doing they learn how to grow their own once they have a more permanent place to live.
Some facts of interest:
- About 9% of the homeless are rural
- Rural homeless are likely white, female, married, working homeless for the first time and for a shorter period of time
- Families, single mothers & children make up largest group of homeless in rural areas
- Domestic violence is higher in rural areas, but alcohol and substance abuse is lower than in urban areas