Harvesters Community Food Network

In Community, Inspiration by Laura CrossleyLeave a Comment

Between the animals and the tot, Aaron and I have found ourselves in a pretty smooth morning routine. Isai wakes us up to watch the sunrise out of our bedroom window. After a diaper change and some chatter, we make coffee, turn on Fox4 local morning news and laugh at the dogs sprinting across the pasture to wake up the rabbits. Then, we venture outside to feed cows and chickens while the dogs babysit. At some point, we grab a quick breakfast for ourselves before setting off to the day’s work and projects.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been exceptionally aware of how fortunate we are to not only feed ourselves in this routine but all of our animals too. We have been able to visit our small-town grocery stores (shop small and local, y’all!) and fill our cart with meats, fresh vegetables and staples without having to choose between formula for the baby or sandwiches for ourselves. We’ve been able to order dog food without having to sacrifice our mortgage payment. We can even joke about how necessary coffee is in our lives. In any other scenario, it would likely be the first to go.

You guys, we are so extremely lucky. I’m so aware of this that my heart is constantly breaking thinking of the others out there that are quietly struggling to keep it together. No one needs to do that – now or ever.

Settling into the rocking chair to catch a few minutes of the morning news today, I saw the hundreds of cars wrapping around KC’s stadiums to receive food from Harvesters Community Food Network. Harvesters is an incredible non-profit organization that feeds the region. They distribute donated food to shelters, individuals, families, organizations and more – ensuring that the people in our community can eat.

Even in our rural communities outside of Kansas City, their trucks distribute meals and groceries to those that need them. Their support is far-reaching and impacts many in the urban and rural communities Aaron and I have loved for so long.

In the current moment – with layoffs, financial struggles and more related to the COVID-19 pandemic – their support is in mass demand. The need in our community was evident through the sheer number of vehicles in line on TV.

When we planned the garden, we knew we were growing more than we needed. The hope has always been to provide for more than ourselves. To be able to share the bounty of what the farm can provide. Unfortunately – just days after getting things into the ground – nothing has grown yet.

Even though our family, too, is counting every dollar and planning for a very uncertain future – I can, with gratitude, say basic access to food is not a problem for us. Knowing that and only that, we’re donating to Harvesters. We’re hoping our dollars can help someone that very much needs them right now. We’re hoping one less family goes without. We’re hoping one more family can celebrate abundance and good fortune.

If you, too, can contribute to feeding others in the community – please consider this amazing organization.