Page 4 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - April 2016 - 23-04

Page 4 Senior Times - April 2016
FEEDING OUR NEIGHBORS... THE GLEANING
By: Scott Bouldrey
For a long time now, I’ve had a soft spot for people who fall between the cracks. It probably comes from my own experience in college when my wife and I were on assistance. And as much as that assistance helped, there were many times when it wasn’t enough and we either had nowhere to turn at all or, because they were cheaper, ate foods that were less than healthy for us.
It’s not too different now than it was way back then. When I was a pastor, I made a visit to a couple of food pantries in town.
I was more than a little stunned at the contents. The vast majority of what was available there was processed carbohy- drates, high sodium/high fat processed meats, sugary peanut butter, and foods
that had passed their expiration dates. In fairness, I understand why the
food at the pantries is that way. In this economic environment, local churches and charities are approached daily with requests for groceries, housing and utility assistance, and transportation costs that force charitable
organizations to make hard decisions. When it comes to supplying food, the desire to provide for as many people as possible often means opting for quantity rather than quality. And in our society, the cheapest foods are also the worst for us. And so, what arises from a compassionate decision for quantity unfortunately only ends up trading starvation for malnutrition.
Shortly after those visits, I learned that the seminary I attended had created an urban farm on the property to provide fresh, healthy food for the campus dining hall and the food pantries in Delaware
and Columbus. All I could think was, “What a great idea!” And mere days after reading about it, I was talking with the pastor at Washington Heights UMC and
he was pointing out the land adjacent to the church. They own it, all five-and-a-half acres, and they were trying to think of a mission for it. I just turned to him and said, “Um... urban farm!” And before I knew it, the Gleaning was born!
Our objective at the Gleaning is to produce and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to the food pantries, meal programs, and neighborhood community centers of Battle Creek. By improving the food quality at the pantries and helping local meal programs we can make healthier foods more accessible to more people. Finally, when everyone can eat foods that are better for them, other health benefits (like reduced rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol) can come about.
We know we cannot do this alone.
We have several partner organizations and churches in Battle Creek; but, as the old saying goes, many hands make light work. We need volunteer workers to help clear, mow, rake, plant, pick, weed, trim, and generally maintain the site. We need some equipment (rototillers, tractors with tiller attachments, posthole diggers, etc.) that people either use while there or loan to
us for a time. Those who can’t do much
in the way of physical labor can help by coordinating phone calls and emails, help with grant writing, collect simple recipes for cooking fruits and veggies for us to hand out at the pantries, or donate money.
We have a kind of catch phrase at the Gleaning, one that sums up our reasoning and goals: “Because healthy food should not be a luxury.” It’s a simple truth
that calls us back to simple answers. Like planting a garden.
Donations can be mailed to the Gleaning, 153 N Wood St, Battle Creek, MI, 49037 or donate online at our website www.the-gleaning.org.
Miles For Memories
Sept 17, 2016
Join the Miles For Memories signature event to help change the face of Alzheimer’s in Calhoun County.
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?
• 5K Fun Walk or Run
• Community Stroll
• Create a Team
• Become a Sponsor
• Become a Volunteer
• Sign up for the tailgate party
CAN’T PARTICIPATE THAT DAY?
Send Your Donation To:
Battle Creek Community Foundation
32 W. Michigan Ave, Ste 1, Battle Creek, MI 49017
Make Check’s Payable To:
“BCCF/Miles for Memories”
Supporting Calhoun County programming. Collaborating on early on-set research.
MORE INFORMATION
www.scenepub.com/milesformemories Call (269) 979-1412
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter@miles4memos
Online registration opens February 17,2016 at www.itsyourrace.com
Sept17,2016
Sept 17, 2016 • 9am BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN
BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN