Village Harvest and other activities December 17, 2014 (full size gallery)
The second Village Harvest turned out to be a beautiful late fall day in Port Royal with moderate temperatures. The volunteers put together 21 bags of food. Helpers included Marion, Eunice, Becky, Tucker, Zeke, Loretta, Betty, Charles
The food list was close to what was requested from parishioners – potatoes evaporated milk, tuna fish, chicken broth, apples, oranges, peanut butter crackers, paper towels and towels, scotch tape and kleenix. Johnny bought the following from the Northern Neck Food Bank – watermelons (in December!), avocado potatoes, and acorn squash – about 700 pounds. To help out the latter, we provided packs of brown sugar and cinnamon and directions on how to cook the acorn squash.
Johnny also provided a pamphlet about the Northern Neck Food Bank. They provide nutritious food to 6200 people a months through 28 food pantries in the counties of Essez, Lancaster, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland.
At 5pm youth group started. Instead of reading the Chronicles of Narnia, they talked about the story of Christmas and particularly the idea of giving gifts through the wisemen to those who need them. Coins and incense were used to demonstrate the wisemen providing gifts.
The children had a chance to give their own gifts through the Heifer project. Catherine put various pictures of animals out on the table from the Heffer project and gave each child $100 to buy animals so they choose their present. This was real money – a parishioner had donated $1,000!
Along the way there was a chance to watch the painters continue the work on the walls and pediments. The east wall is finished.