A Christian response to World Hunger
A Growing Project by Foods Resource Bank
Somonauk Area Project
Rural Churches: Somonauk: St. John’s Lutheran, Union Congregational,
St. John the Baptist Catholic, Somonauk Baptist and Somonauk United Presbyterian;
Sandwich: Salem Lutheran; Federated; Plano: First Lutheran
Leland: Suydam United Methodist; Bethany Lutheran; Leland United Methodist
Hinckley: First United Methodist of Hinckley; Yorkville: Cross Lutheran School
Urban Churches: Aurora: St. Mark’s Lutheran; Palatine: All Saints’ Lutheran
Arlington Heights: Christian Church of Arlington Heights
The Somonauk Area Growing Project for Foods Resource Bank enjoyed another very successful year. In 2009, 43 acres donated by 21 farmers were supported by twelve rural churches, three urban churches, and one parochial school. Once again the Harvest Celebration was held jointly with the Earlville Growing Project on October 17 at the farm of Stacey and Karleen Dolder. Approximately 450 people were in attendance that day. The day began with an ecumenical worship service conducted by pastors and interns from most of the participating churches. Following were demonstrations, livestock and other agricultural displays, and lunch. Highlighted this year were butter making, ice cream making, honey production demonstration, pumpkin carving, wheat weaving, wool spinning, flour milling, sheep shearing, cider pressing, pedal tractor races and pulls, and wagon rides pulled by draft horses. We were unable to provide combine rides this year due to the lateness of the corn crop. Kurt Larson spoke briefly to explain this agricultural anomaly to those in attendance. The bluegrass group Just Us provided music through most of the day and was very favorably received. A free will offering was taken for lunch with all proceeds going to the projects as all food was donated. This year the pie auction netted $5000 from the sale of 31 pies. The Harvest Celebration also received some matching funds from Thrivent for Lutherans. The money raised the day of the Harvest Celebration totaled $12,000 and will be used by FRB to support programs in Nicaragua and Honduras. In total, the Somonauk Area Growing Project raised $33,680. The funds raised by the Somonauk Area Growing Project will be used to support a sweet potato/cassava production project in Zambia Mongu. The 2010 Harvest Celebration will be held on Saturday, October 16 at a place to be determined.
Yours in Christ,
Jerry and Toni Lundeen
That is the result of our $1,000 investment with the Foods Resource Bank Project with the churches listed above.
Our $1,000 investment in the Foods Resource Bank project in Valparaiso grew to $11,000.00 representing the joint effort of CCAH with the First Christian Church in Valparaiso.
Both projects are in cooperation with Week of Compassion of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
If you would like to learn more about the Foods Resource Bank you can go to www.foodsresourcebank.org.