San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Food Bank harvest helps sow hope for the needy
Wearing protective gloves, Destiny Giles harvested food from fertile fields that once provided her with sustenance in her time of need.
On Saturday morning, she trudged down the fields at the San Antonio Food Bank’s Urban Farm, thankful to be of assistance to others in need. Four years ago, Giles and her children were homeless. Fruit and vegetables picked from the farm helped her provide meals to her children.
In a row of leafy vines, Giles worked with her 4year-old son Dasani, and Toni Thornton, 33, a fellow congregation member from Restoration Place Church. “Come on, big boy,” she said, as she handed the youngster a footballsized watermelon. Fellow volunteers cheered her little helper as he hefted the melon in his arms.
“To be able to give back to the San Antonio community that gave to us is a blessing,” Giles, 28, said. “This is super exciting.”
On Saturday morning, Giles joined more than 100 volunteers at the 41-acre farm behind the San Antonio Food Bank. In addition to watermelon, volunteers also harvested cantaloupes, peppers, cherry tomatoes and basil.
The food bank, located at 5200 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy, has partnered with more than 500 agencies to help more than 58,000 people in a 16-county service area.
Angela McDermott, garden engagement coordinator, said in the past few weeks they had to cancel harvesting because of heavy rains.
The cantaloupes were planted in partnership with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office of Bexar County. McDermott said a portion of the fruit is researched and the results are presented to local farmers. The surplus is donated to the community.
“We welcome anyone who is willing to come out and learn how to grow food for themselves or the community,” she said, “or just learn a little bit more where their food comes from.”
She cautioned the group to be careful and not be cut by the high-growing pigweed. Throughout the morning, she walked the fields, encouraging the volunteers to drink water and stay hydrated.
As the temperatures began to rise, the volunteers loaded boxes and bins with the crops. .
Several rows away, Jennifer Spalding, 43, was among two dozen volunteers who picked peppers and tomatoes. She worked with Danny Garcia, 44, Carlos Aguirre, 43, and Amanda Albiar, 44, all friends she has known since high school.
“We like to get together and serve our community,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to provide a service to those in need.”
vtdavis@express-news.net