News

Church volunteers pack seeds to fill growing need in Africa

Posted April 20, 2018 1:00 am

By Gilbert R. Boucher II

Scoutmaster Dan Chachakis of Boy Scout Troop 185 in Forest Park holds his 19-month-old grandson, Kenny, as he packs seeds Sunday with his wife, Marcy, at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. Over four days, volunteers packed 1 million bags of seeds to distribute in Africa. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

More than 550 volunteers filled envelopes with cucumber seeds Sunday in the Activity Center at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, preparing them for the long journey to Africa where they'll help feed hungry families.

Almost 20,000 volunteers were expected to fill more than 1 million seed packs over the past four days for ministry partners in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Congo, Malawi and Zambia.

"We have been doing this since 2010, and it is one of the events that is most looked forward to here at our church," said volunteer organizer Bryan Kidd. "Every year we have a blast packing our seeds."

Each pack supplies a family with enough seeds to grow a garden that will produce a sustainable source of food and income for their household.

"My whole family looks forward to doing this every year. I have a son, Carter, who is 11 and a daughter, Kaley, who is 13, and they jump in and it is a family event," Kidd said. "They are here all weekend long and they love doing it."

Ethan Gray, 10, right, and his brother, Justin, 8, of Carpentersville, representing Perry Elementary School, filled seed packs Sunday at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. Over four days, volunteers packed 1 million bags of seeds to distribute to several countries in Africa. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

The Activity Room at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington is filled Sunday during a seed-packing event. Over four days, volunteers packed 1 million bags of seeds to distribute to several countries in Africa. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

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