food ministries flourish on different paths

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A shopper views samples of teas for sale at the farmer’s market in the parking lot at NorthUnited Methodist Church in Indianapolis. A UMNS photo by Dan Gangler.

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Tips gleaned from farmers market and communitygarden organizers

1. Be clear about whom you are trying to help. Are you

Food ministries flourish on different paths

A UMNS FeatureBy Tara Puckey*

3:00 P.M. ET February 1, 2012

Ross Faris was well-loved and well-known for his love of gardening.

After his death last fall, members of theIndianapolis community streamedthrough the doors of North UnitedMethodist Church, packing the pewson a cold day to remember the manwho, by all accounts, would have shiedfrom the attention.

Years ago, starting with a few seeds,Faris turned his Indianapolis yard into aflourishing garden. His young childrensold the fresh produce at the end of thedriveway. Over time, those few rowsturned into an overflowing center forfresh food and good company, and“Your Neighbor's Garden” was officially formed, built lovingly around a sense of community that felt more like family.

“He had so much joy in those gardens,” recalled David Owen, a longtime friend, “and no matter where Ross was, he alwayssought to improve things.”

And he did. The legacy Faris left is visible today in North United Methodist Church’s farmers market, which has an impact on anentire community.

Eleven years ago, not many options for fresh produce existed for those in the neighborhood nestled along Meridian Street,which stretches through the middle of Indiana’s capital city. When North United Methodist members discovered the rate ofdiabetes within a one-mile radius was steadily increasing, they enlisted the help of Faris to build a farmers market program. Thechurch members hoped the accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables would lead to a healthier neighborhood.

“Ross was very instrumental in the program,” said the Rev. Brian Williams. “Long before locally grown food became popular, hehad already been doing it and so he was there to help get us up and running.”

Flourishing market

Open spring through fall, the market often fills at 4 p.m. every Thursday with more than 400 people from the local community.On average, 20 vendors sell their products, ranging from fruits and vegetables to soy-based candles and homemade soaps.

Joel O’Neil, the market’s manager, is happy to see theprogram continually growing to include more than justfresh produce.

“At our market,” O’Neil said, “we allow vendors to sell

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1. Be clear about whom you are trying to help. Are youtrying to feed people or help them to realize theirpotential?

2. Partner. Churches and organizations in the UnitedStates and around the world are working to feed thehungry. Find partners.

3. Don’t overburden your volunteers. Part of the reasoncommunity gardens declined in some areas wasbecause the volunteers were not always the hungrypeople in the community. Despite wanting to helpothers, they were overwhelmed with the amount ofwork and small numbers of volunteers.

4. Look at people with fresh eyes. The Rev. Mike Matherof Broadway United Methodist Church noted thegrowers used to be viewed as needy people but, whenlooked at correctly as “children of God with talents andvaluable skills,” they were able to create their own pathand flourish.

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“At our market,” O’Neil said, “we allow vendors to sellwhat meets our requirements … that it’s a made-in-Indiana, consumable product. The woman who used tomake soap to sell used all natural ingredients and madeit right out of her home.”

O’Neil, a volunteer, is joined by just a few other adultvolunteers who keep the program organized andfunctioning. But, some of the greatest help comes fromstudent volunteers — sometimes as many as eight —from the International School of Indiana, aprekindergarten through 12th-grade private school,O’Neil said.

“The kids are great,” he said. “They are there to helptranslate, which is something that is really helpful in thediverse neighborhood. They also help vendors stock anddirect people. Just great to have them around.”

In the past, the U.S. federal program Women, Infantsand Children had a table at the market, where shoppers

could apply for assistance and, if qualified, receive a voucher immediately to use at the market. However, changes in staffingand resources have moved the application process to the WIC office.

Even with assistance, it isn’t always enough to feed a hungry family. Last year, the church set up a Dollar-for-Dollar-MatchProgram to boost the spending amount families receive through WIC.

“Each family is given something like $18 for the whole market season,” Williams said. “We know that isn’t going to do much foryou when it comes to fresh produce and so the church has stepped in to double that, sometimes even triple it.”

More help for the hungry

In addition to the farmers market, North has operated a soup kitchen, Bread ‘n’ Bowl, for the last 25 years.

“It started with a few members making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a couple of kids,” Williams said. “It became reallypopular and all of a sudden they were making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a lot of kids.”

The meals, served three days a week, are now full hot meals, with a take-home option available. On average, North UnitedMethodist serves more than 50 people each day and sometimes more than 100 during winter months.

Broadway United Methodist, less than two miles south of North, reachedout to help the hungry in a different way after community gardens in thearea began to decline.

Almost seven years ago, a “roving listener” began to speak with people inthe immediate area of the church to help identify the gifts and passions ofpeople within their community.

“We found that there were over 40 talented gardeners in a very small areaaround us,” said the Rev. Mike Mather, senior pastor at the church. “Andso we hired a few young people to talk with the gardeners, to find out howmuch they grew, what they grew and if they would be interested in sellingtheir product.”

At the same time, volunteers within the church began a conversation with local institutions, businesses and associations,seeking out those interested in purchasing from the newly identified group of gardeners.

Soon, the produce began to sell. Fresh vegetables and fruits were sold at church on Sunday mornings after worship andrestaurants received delivery of fresh local food. The partnerships continue to grow, as the group prepares for participation in afarmers market at Methodist Hospital, a major inner-city facility, later this summer.

The growers receive the money. Mather said the church just started the conversation among all of them, and the growers didthe work.

Mather emphasized that by allowing the group to flourish on its own, the church helped the members to develop a sustainableway to help themselves.

*Puckey is an Indianapolis freelance writer.

food ministries flourish on different paths

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