Working Together Builds Connections and Community

We’re always happy to meet with local individuals, organizations, and companies to share what we do at LCS! Bright Spot Urban Farm visited us recently after ChristianaCare suggested a meeting with us so we could share our food pantry expertise and experience. Our executive director Rob Gurnee and Food Pantry and Delaware Food Farmacy Coordinator Jenn Williams enjoyed hearing about the amazing work Ruth Arias and Airiel Peoples do with teens at their farm. They offer a very hands-on program for youth ages 14 to 19 to learn about growing food, building community, and changing the food system. In fact, they are taking applications now for their Youth Apprentice Crew’s winter/spring session. 

A program of West End Neighborhood House, Bright Spot Urban Farm educates high school students how to grow, harvest, sell, and prepare fresh produce and plants. They offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares during the year, sell seedlings in the spring and produce in the summer and fall, and currently have beautiful poinsettias you can purchase. Students learn safe food handling and get ServeSafe certified. They learn about the value and health benefits of fresh food and get to share that knowledge and skills with family and friends. We look forward to more great programs and success stories from Bright Spot Urban Farm!

Healthy, fresh food also is vital to our collaboration with ChristianaCare on the Delaware Food Farmacy. Two weeks in a row, healthcare providers from ChristianaCare came to LCS to help package orders for the Delaware Food Farmacy. It allowed them to see what takes place on our side of the program, and it helped us understand what all they do to help their patients. As the Delaware Food Farmacy continues to grow, we need to work together to improve and fine tune what we offer. Sharing our experiences with each other enables us to better understand and serve individuals who are learning how to better manage chronic health diseases.

The challenges our community faces are complex and can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, many organizations exist to try and address issues like food insecurity, health disparity, and safe housing. We believe in the power of working together to find innovative solutions. Collaboration allows us to provide both practical and personal support to those who want to achieve security. When individuals persevere through challenges, they can become advocates and leaders for themselves and others. We find hope and inspiration in those around us!