Cascadia Produce, neighborhood leaders, and Saron Lutheran-First Presbyterian Church teamed up Aug. 12 to deliver 100 boxes of produce and other groceries to their Hoquiam neighbors.
“The last 18 months have been hard for everyone. We have all faced our own struggles and community can help us through it,” said Rev. Michelle de Beauchamp of Saron Lutheran-First Presbyterian. “Jesus calls on us to work together to care for our neighbors no matter who they are.”
The food giveaway was held at the Rose Center, a ministry of Saron Lutheran-First Presbyterian Church located at the intersection of Third and K streets that serves as an education and spiritual retreat center. The central ministry of the Rose Center is a community garden that grows fresh produce to donate to the Hoquiam Food Bank.
“We have already provided 250 pounds of produce this year. We are halfway to our 2021 goal of 500 pounds,” said de Beauchamp. “Our church mission is to be a beacon of hope in Grays Harbor. Giving food to our neighbors is how we live into our mission. Providing a basic need without strings attached is a meaningful way to demonstrate Christ’s love for everyone.”
Organizers hope that the Aug. 12 giveaway will become a reoccurring event at the Rose Center because it is a safe way to deliver much-needed food during the pandemic. Follow the church’s Facebook page at facebook.com/Saron1st for future giveaways.
Diane Hadfield, Rick Parker and other community members approached the church to team up to host the event.
“I want to thank them, Jillian Moore and Jeremy Vrablik of Cascadia Produce, Mayor Winkelman, and the city of Hoquiam for helping to make this happen,” said de Beauchamp.
Cascadia Produce is a small, family-owned wholesale produce distributor that changed its mission in 2020 to provide emergency food relief due to the pandemic. They create food boxes to be donated to local groups throughout the state to be given to people in need, helping people facing food insecurity while supporting local farms.
— The Daily World
