“On behalf of the
Board of Directors of the Racine Community Foundation, I am pleased to inform
you that the Foundation has approved a grant to Shepherds College to be used
toward the Shepherds College Gardens Community Food Project.”
Wooohoooo!!
Shepherds College received this letter recently in response
to a grant proposal based on an idea Leslie Leith, Horticulture Instructor, had
to develop a socially responsible, sustainable and community-based fresh
vegetable program. This program will expand the vocational training skills of
our students with intellectual disabilities, while serving and benefiting
Racine County low-income consumers.
“This project was
definitely inspired by God,” said Mrs. Leith. “For over a year, agriculture opportunities were placed in my path. I
tried to remind God that I am not a farmer. But, eventually I realized His plan
was not about farming, but educational training and helping others.”
Shepherds College Gardens will be a hands-on learning
laboratory for the Horticulture students as well as visiting students from
local high schools. Skills in math (Square Foot Gardening), business (selling
and marketing vegetables), and Horticulture (learning sustainable agriculture
and health benefits) will be practiced. It will also provide affordable,
healthy food to needy families in the Racine area.
I love this plan for so many reasons.
·
It was inspired by God. The contentment that comes from following a
path laid out by Someone who is loving and all-knowing is filled soul-deep with
serenity and gratitude. There may be bumps ahead, but we can persevere knowing
that we’re on the right path.
·
It helps provide low-income families with
healthy food. I came from a needy family. My dad was a self-employed carpenter
for much of my life. This might sound ungrateful, and I don’t mean it to be –
but I was sick of government supplied
“cheese-like” products and powdered milk. I craved real food. To know that our students will be helping moms and dads
serve food that doesn’t wobble like a gummy bear, that doesn’t have enough neon
color added to light up their innards like Day-Glo, is a source of personal
joy. Our students won’t just be providing food to address an immediate hunger;
they’ll be providing nutritious food that will contribute to the overall
well-being of the person eating it.
·
It will foster growth in our students with
intellectual disabilities. The students will continue to develop employable
skills by participating in all aspects of production such as sowing seeds,
planting, weeding, watering and harvesting. Students will also learn through
lectures on various, agricultural subjects, field trips and professional
work-study days.
·
It stays true to the Shepherds philosophy of
Appropriate Independence – a level of self-sufficiency that is aligned with
individual strengths and guided by Christian values.
o
Designed
On and For Purpose – the plan provides educational service learning
opportunities to our students, as well as visiting students, to promote long-term
program sustainability. It will target youth with agriculture educational
programs and school field trips, helping to build interest and awareness in the
economic and nutritional possibilities of improving food security through local
food production. Our students have
purpose, and so does this plan.
o
Created
as Individuals for Community – the plan to develop Shepherds College
Gardens includes a Vegetable Market Share Program. This program will allow
low-income residents to use a coupon card to purchase fruits, vegetables, and
herbs from our farmer’s market vendor stand. The students will be using their
gifts and knowledge to help their community while actively serving in their
community. This plan also invites the community in through the Plant-A-Row program
that allows visiting students to grow food for donation to the local emergency
food pantry.
o
Trained
for Life – this plan is part of the Shepherds College accredited
Horticulture education curriculum, teaching vocational skills to our students
with intellectual disabilities.
o
Empowered
to Serve – the plan not only includes selling our fresh produce at an
affordable rate, but donating 50% of what we grow to the Racine County Food
Bank. The food bank provides food for all 16 food pantries in Racine County and
currently serves 78,000 individuals. We believe that our community involvement
of providing free produce to the Racine County Food Bank will assist in food
security and meet one of the long term needs of low-income individuals and
families.
·
I think one of the main reasons I love this plan
though – it breaks a stereotype. That old one where people with intellectual
disabilities are the ones the community needs to support, not the other way
around.
Do people with intellectual disabilities need
support from the community? Yes.
But they
also can support.
They can grow.
They can build.
They can contribute.
They can serve.
They can make a difference.
They can…
Well, I’ll end it there.
They can.
Shepherds College would like to thank the Racine Community Foundation for their generous grant from the St. Luke’s Hospital Trustees Fund.
Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.
No comments:
Post a Comment