“…whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:43 -45
This month we are devoting our entire newsletter to highlighting the important work being done by our local mission partner, NJ Farmers Against Hunger, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current crisis has taken a heavy toll on families in South Jersey, amplifying many times over the challenges of food insecurity faced by those in our communities. At the same time, major disruptions to the food production and distribution chains have led to enormous increases in food waste, of which the socio-economic and environmental costs are staggering. Learn more about food waste during the time of coronavirus. In response to this unfolding crisis in our own backyards, NJ Farmers Against Hunger has stepped up to help fill the void.
Working with partner groups such as: Rolling Harvest Food Rescue, Food Bank of South Jersey, local colleges, and county and municipal officials, Farmers Against Hunger has distributed an amazing 300,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and some non-perishables to over 10,000 NJ families since the start of the coronavirus 10 weeks ago. Fourteen direct-to-resident emergency food distribution events have been held, with additional events planned in the coming weeks. During this time, Farmers Against Hunger also continues in its core mission of gleaning extra produce from local farms for distribution to local food banks. In fact, as an outdoor activity where infection control measures such as social distancing and masks can be easily implemented, gleaning continues to be a great opportunity for volunteers to get involved and serve our neighbors in this time of great need. If you are in a low-risk group and would like to either volunteer, or learn more about how you can be of help, please email Farmers Against Hunger. Additionally, you can make a monetary donation to support their important work by visiting their website.
The Green Team will be regrouping in the fall, with the hope of identifying new ways of growing in our ministry and serving the congregation during the ongoing challenges of COVID. In the meantime, you can find us on our website; by following the SMLC Facebook page; or by emailing me. Please have a safe and healthy summer, and remember we are always looking for new members to join us!