Barrington United Methodist Church, providing fresh produce to local food banks for ten years

Food banks across Lake, Cook, Kane and McHenry Counties attest to the number of people to whom hunger is a real and persistent concern. The current COVIC-19 crisis, with its attendant economic slowdown, has only added to the number of households that suffer food insecurity.

As we struggle to break out of winter's grip and push into spring, members of Barrington United Methodist Church (BUMC) remember that their Christian faith compels them to attempt to "feed the hungry." That faith informs their belief that, in fact, spring will come and with it the opportunity to be of practical service to their community.

Last year BUMC's Congregational Garden produced 34,167 pounds of vegetables that were distributed to seven local food banks. To help meet the demands that will surely increase in the coming days, weeks and months, members of BUMC's Congregational Garden team have been making preparations to give their crops the best possible chance of being bountiful.

Soil samples have been taken from a number of spots across the expanding garden and sent for analysis to insure that the proper nutrients get added to the soil. Approximately 2,000 assorted tomato, 400 assorted pepper and 500 broccoli seeds have been taken to Horchers Florist and Greenhouses in Wheeling, a long-time partner. Those seeds will be planted, germinate and then be moved to BUMC to be planted. The schedule calls for staggering the plantings over a couple of weeks so that the harvest is spread out over summer.

The seedlings will be brought to the church garden so that they acclimate before planting in May or June. Throughout the summer, members and friends of the church will plant seeds and seedlings, pull weeds, irrigate the crops and, finally, with God's help, harvest tons of fresh vegetables for distribution to our neighbors through local food pantries.