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Village Harvest, Annual Report, 2016
Ben Hicks
The Village Harvest (VH) is our monthly food distribution on the 3
rd
Wednesday for Caroline
Essex and King George Counties begun in November, 2014 by the ECW. It is a major outreach
project of the church and a great community connection. VH provides two main benefits for
those who participate:
1. Food for those who are being challenged economically. Funds saved from purchasing food
can go toward other necessities. Widows, single parents, senior adults on limited fix income,
unemployed, working poor, people experiencing a crisis benefit from this food distribution.
2. Food for those who lack transportation to get it. People come from Caroline, King George
and Essex counties. Port Royal has no grocery stores. The nearest grocery stores are twelve to
fifteen miles away, and there is no public transportation.
For our parishioners, we have used the program to teaching children about outreach and
generosity, preparing bean soup mix to be distributed at VH during Vacation Bible School in
2015. The program continually enriches those at St. Peter's who help with the distribution.
There were 3 main changes in the program during 2016:
1.
In February, the VH shifted from a bagged distribution to market style
. Market style allows
the client to choose what is needed without receiving food that will not be used. Freedom of
choice is part of respecting the dignity of the shoppers.
2.
Luncheons
. Twice in July, a group from the VH food distribution sat down to share lunch with
parishioners for overall fellowship as well to talk about their needs in relationship to the
existing VH program. How well is it going? Any changes needed? Over plates of barbecued
chicken, macaroni and cheese and green beans, the group talked about all sorts of things,
including cooking tips, favorite recipes, and discussed various ideas about how the new kitchen
at St Peter’s can be used to serve the community.
At the December distribution, clients had the option of sitting down and enjoying bowls of bean
soup, as well has having the opportunity to make bean soup gift jars to take home and cook
later or to give as gifts.
3.
Significant Growth.
2016 showed a 144% increase in people served and 209% increase in food. For 2016, St Peter’s
served 1,402 people and distributed 12,289 pounds of food for an average of just under 117