What We Did
In a farming and fishing community, with an established community garden on our church property, we chose to set up a food sharing table for nourishment of all kinds. Volunteers painted our table and installed wheels and an axle on one end, so that we could roll it to shaded areas near the front of our church. After an initial blessing of the table after Sunday worship, we advertised produce exchange days twice a week through the summer and fall, when people from the church and community could donate produce and/or take some home. This way, gardeners could be collaborative in their harvesting, and those who had nothing to share were still welcome to take food for their needs. Produce still left on the table by the end of the day was delivered to a local community pantry. A lock box was installed for monetary donations to the Food Bank, although donations were not mandatory—this raised about $115 in change and small bills. We also set up a laminated binder for recipes to be shared. We wrote positive messages and Bible verses pertaining to food and spiritual nourishment on the 100 Tables postcards and invited people to take them away. We had lots of donations throughout the harvest season: lettuce, Swiss chard, carrots, beets, tomatoes, zucchinis, winter squashes, pumpkins, rutabagas, onions, beans, peppers, grapes, homemade preserves, and more. The table also provided a pleasant resting place for pedestrians to stop and have their lunch.
Why We Did It
One of our greatest assets at Hillcrest is a large, volunteer-run community garden on our church property. Since we already have some partnerships with local organizations such as the Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Inclusions East, and the Down East Food Collective, we hoped to build on this work in our own way. Food insecurity and poor nutrition is a problem in our community, as in many, and we thought we could help by offering free healthy garden produce, by educating people on how to cook these vegetables, and by building relationships around food and the land, which are so central to our scriptures and theology—and to our congregation's identity.
What We Did
We continued our ministry from last year in using our table for food sharing, mainly fresh garden produce. Church community gardeners and others brought produce two days a week to donate/take/exchange. A box for monetary donations to the Food Bank was also installed, and that continues to raise money for local needs. Uncollected produce was taken to a local community pantry to be used by people in need. A community recipe binder was also available at the table. During PEI Neighbour Week, we brought the table to the sidewalk and served free Cows ice cream to passersby. We estimate that 75 cups/cones were served. Information flyers about the church were handed out, and we met many of our neighbours, including new immigrant families.
Why We Did It
Food and food security are special passions at our church, which has many farmers in it. We have a large and well-kept community garden, which has been a hub for local gardeners, and often produces more than its gardeners can use. We wanted to foster a spirit of sharing, bring neighbours together over food, educate people on the wide range of food that our soil can grow, and offer concrete help to people who are hungry or unable to plant gardens of their own. We also wanted to reach out to families, and make an explicit welcome to immigrants and newcomers to our area. We though that an ice cream give-away during PEI Neighbour week would be a simple and popular way to do that.
