GUELPH/ERAMOSA – The farming community came together recently at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank spring meeting to talk about international hunger and how locals are making a global difference through growing projects.
Twenty-three people from the surrounding area attended the March 27 event at Stone United Church, which featured Ontario regional representative Henry Reinders and Foodgrains Bank supporter relations manager Julie Derksen.
Reinders provided an update on the situation in Gaza, and the response mounted by the Foodgrains Bank. He also talked about the new Nature+ program being initiated in four African countries to restore damaged landscapes to productive farmland.
Derksen talked about her learning tour to Kenya, where parts of the country have not seen rain in over four years, which has decimated goat and camel herds.
Foodgrains Bank programing is providing food to help 12,000 people in Marsabit County there.
Bill Allen, treasurer for the growing project, talked about his learning tour to Malawi in November of last year. Damage from Hurricane Freddie was severe and Foodgrains Bank programming was helping people recover.
Bill noted that despite their setbacks, “the people were still filled with joy.”
Barb Parker provided an update, as coordinator, on the local Bushels of Change growing project. This group gives out seeds to people to grow pumpkins, sunflowers and squash.
The community then gathers together in the fall to see who has grown the tallest sunflower or the biggest pumpkin or squash.
The gathering is used as an opportunity for people to donate to the work of Canadian Foodgrains Bank and several thousand dollars are raised each year.
Foodgrains Bank is an international aid organization focused on ending global hunger, working through 15 member organizations with local partners around the world.
This year, Foodgrains will be raffling off a quilt in November. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20 and can be purchased by contacting Reinders at ontario@foodgrainsbank.ca.
