Hunger knows no season and treats all of its victims with the same cruelty. There is no place in the world or community that it does not reach into.
To help fight hunger in their community, members of Tillamook (Ore.) Council 2171 rolled up their sleeves and went to work – literally. Thanks to the Knights’ (and other volunteers) green thumbs and determination to help feed the poor of their community, two local food banks were able to provide fresh produce throughout the summer to those in need.
The project began when council member Don Armstrong, who maintained a 40’x100’ garden plot next to his house, approached his brother Knights with the idea that they begin a council garden. The council saw an opportunity for service and got right to work – beginning by leveling, plowing and fertilizing the field, then planting 100 pounds of seed potatoes, followed by carrots, cabbages, corn and squash later in the season.
“For the first harvest, we took 803 pounds to the Salvation Army – which had no refrigerated storage, so (they) couldn’t take in much fresh produce – and over 6,000 (pounds) to the Oregon Food Bank,” said Grand Knight Paul Wostel.
For the rest of the season, the food bank took whatever was available from the Knights. Describing how the produce would be depleted within a week of the council’s donations, Wostel remarked, “It went out as quick as it came in.” By the end of the season, the council had grown and collected 14, 280 pounds of food.
The community’s response was immediate – and resounding. “This is wonderful,” Wostel said. “People were coming up and thanking us for what we were doing all over the place.”
The planning and planting for this summer’s season began in May.
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