Page 21 - Annual Meeting, 2020

Village Harvest, Annual Report, 2019
Ben Hicks

We introduced the Village Harvest at the end of 2014 as a response to the increasing costs
of food and to ease some of the financial strain of those in our community. Port Royal can
be described as a food desert. We set up the food distribution market style to make food
available locally and easily accessible to those who need it.

In summary, the distribution provides--

1. Food for those who are being challenged economically. Funds saved from purchasing
food can go toward other necessities. We have a variety of clients ‐ widows, single parents,
senior adults on limited fix income, unemployed, working poor, people experiencing a
crisis.

2. Food for those who lack transportation to get it. Several clients from Caroline and Essex
counties pick up food for those who can’t get to St Peter’s on their own.

The distribution provides benefits for those at St. Peter’s as well-as an example of
generosity and service to the community- Many at St. Peter’s serve each month. Johnny and
Cooke Davis bring back food monthly from the Northern Neck Food Bank.

Two quotes taken a year ago from our volunteers at the 3rd anniversary highlight the role
for the volunteers:

“I enjoy being a part of a team in our mission ‘To Do God’s Will’. “I think that our community is
learning that we at St. Peter’s CARE and desire to share God’s love with our neighbors.”

“I help with Village Harvest because we get to know the people we help. These folks become
friends not just a number. It just makes me happy that we can help in some small way to make
things a little easier or better for them.”

Village Harvest helps those outside the church who are dealing with financial hardships as
well as those inside the church who enjoy working one-on-one in service to others. The
distribution strengthens our ties to the community we are charged to serve and
strengthens our ties to God who nourishes us.

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