These are hard times financially for many in our community and neighboring towns.  Individually, many of us are contributing money to the charities of our choice.  But what are we doing collectively? At Davidson United Methodist Church (DUMC), members this week undertook two projects in hopes of making a difference: A food collection and the start of a new community garden. Associate Minister Jeff Hassel calls it “good news in the midst of bad.”

Also below, news about a food drive at Davidson College Presbyterian Church for Loaves & Fishes food pantry, which has seen an increase in clients it serves.

A COLLECTION PLATE FILLED WITH FOOD

Last Sunday DUMC, knowing the situation of our local human service agencies, had a Father’s Day Food Drive to benefit the Mooresville Soup Kitchen, Ada Jenkins Loaves & Fishes food pantry, Mooresville Christian Mission and the Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen in Huntersville.   Church-goers contributed thousands of pounds of food and other items and raised $5,000.  DUMC church member Susan Harrison was the prime mover on this worthy project.

A GARDEN FOR THE COMMON GOOD

Last evening, June 25, DUMC members started a community garden on the land behind the Wachovia drive-through bank on South Main Street, just on the other side of the tracks.

The garden is an idea that had its birth in the Davidson Ministerial Association and has found traction as a grass-roots movement within DUMC and Ada Jenkins.  The goal is to involve people from all over town, Spanish-speakers and English speakers,  and to work toward a fall planting this year.

Matt Hickey is a leader in the DUMC garden club and has more information for anyone interested.  (By the way, did you know that DUMC has its own Garden Club?  Knowing gardening enthusiast Betsy Seymour, the wife of the Rev. Jody Seymour, we would not expect otherwise.)

With these two efforts, DUMC is trying to make a difference to fill a growing need for food among those residents out of work and trying hard to make ends meet.

FOOD DRIVE AT DCPC

Meanwhile, up the street at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, they’re collecting food this week for the Loaves & Fishes food pantry. The Presbytery of Charlotte is collecting donations of non-perishable food items in a trailer behind the Congregation House on Concord Road. They’re suggesting items such as plain pasta, canned tomatoes, flour, sugar and cornmeal, soap, toothbrushes and toilet paper.

The trailer is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 27, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Sunday, June 28. It will be open during Sunday’s Concert on the Green.

Loaves & Fishes  is a nonprofit emergency food pantry that provides a week’s worth of groceries to people in need. The local branch is at Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St.

Send us your news

Have other news of outreach programs, fund-drives or other efforts by local clubs or churches? Let us know and we’ll share them with our readers. Email editor@davidsonnews.net.