Tired of being stuck inside? Want to get outdoors and breathe some fresh air, while also serving our community? Join us for the annual NJ Farmers Against Hunger Thanksgiving packing service event on November 15, 1:45 – 3:45 pm! We will be packing produce for distribution to local food banks, including our own Bridge of Peace Thanksgiving baskets. This is a great outdoor service project for all ages, including families, seniors, and confirmands/mentors, and COVID-related precautions will be in place. For more information or to sign up, please contact Rebecca Masserini.
Founded in 1996, Farmers Against Hunger works to bring together farmers and volunteers to glean extra produce in the fields and bring it to families in need. For the past 4 years, SMLC has supported FAH through the Sunday School local mission program, as well as through service opportunities each summer and fall. Together, FAH and SMLC are working to address problems of both food insecurity and food waste, helping make a difference for people and our planet. If you would like to learn more about the environmental and societal impact of food waste, please check out these great documentaries:
- “Just Eat it” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR1Y-ieyfjU). Film producer Jen Rustemeyer and her partner Grant Baldwin take a 6-month challenge to eat only discarded food. Along the way, they learn about the huge magnitude of waste in our food supply chain and the toll it takes on our natural resources. Recently screened in partnership with GreenFaith Circle of Southern NJ, Sustainability Now, Pachamama Alliance, and TriCounty Sustainability Alliance.
- “Kiss the Ground” (https://kissthegroundmovie.com/). Regenerative agriculture is a new way of thinking about how sustainable farming and food supply processes can not only benefit people and curb wasteful production practices, but also actually be a solution to help reduce greenhouse gases and restore natural resources (requires Netflix access).
Also, while the pandemic has forced us to cancel our in-person Meatless Monday Potluck this year, you can still improve heart and digestive health, as well as conserve water and greenhouse gases, by skipping meat just one day a week. Find your favorite satisfying and delicious fall recipe here: https://www.meatlessmonday.com/favorite-recipes/. One of ours is the “Pumpkin Maple-Glazed Penne with Roasted Fall Vegetables” (yum!)
The Green Team is continuing to meet by Zoom during the pandemic. To learn more, join us, or sign up for upcoming events, please contact Brian Lestini. Also check out our website and follow the SMLC Facebook page.
—Brian Lestini, Green Team chair