2008 Woodie Awards
ROC And Campus Ministry Join Forces To Pick Peppers
Amy Pouliot
Issue date: 9/18/03 Section: News Stories
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As part of their student leader training activities, during the week of August 24th, members from the Reach Out Center and Campus Ministry traveled to Brigham Hill Community Farm to pick these peppers and to learn more about the non-profit program run there.
Eager to get involved with this program as soon as she had learned about it, Reach Out Center Director, Debbie Lynch arranged for this day.
"I was so inspired by the farm that I wanted our student leaders to not only help them in their efforts but to be exposed to that kind of grassroots community service," said Lynch.
The program started as Food for the Needy in the 1970s, when three of the local priests asked philanthropist Bill Abbott for use of his small fourteen-acre farm to grow vegetables for the homeless. Since then this program has expanded, greatly adding many more volunteers and a new farm and barn located in North Grafton, Massachusetts.
It has also undergone a recent name change to Community Harvest Project. In 2002, according to their newsletter, The Sprout, 35,000 pounds of food were grown and picked by volunteers to be given to the Worcester County Food Bank. Brigham Hill Community Farm is now the largest supplier of fresh vegetables to the food bank.
Along with Lynch, Campus Minister, Stephanie McCaffrey was also moved by the idea that the farm donates one hundred percent of their yield to those in need
"It was a humble reminder of where our food comes from and especially worthwhile since we knew that every pepper and tomato we picked that day went directly to hungry people in the Worcester area," she said. "It made me more conscious of the reality of hunger in Massachusetts and reminded me not to take food for granted."
The experience at the farm had a positive effect on many of the students who worked that day picking the peppers and tomatoes.
"I was just surprised how much fun it was picking peppers and it felt good knowing I was making a difference," said Senior Geoff LaMarche.
Other students inquired as to how they can continue to volunteer there and if they could bring their friends. Lynch's vision was a successful one. Every person who volunteered that day became more aware of the hard work required to start and run a program like this, as well as the great need for fresh vegetables at the shelters in Massachusetts.
This program is run solely by donations and volunteers. There is always a need for people to help work at the farms. If you would like to get involved, contact Debbie Lynch at the Reach Out Center for more information.