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Santa Maria Advisory Board and community help corps’ feeding programs meet the area’s growing need.
By Jennifer Swain, Lt., with Dorothy Mogavero
The Santa Maria, Calif., advisory board recently met a challenge to find funding and supplies in the community for the corps’ “Lunch Bunch”—a free weekday lunch to up to 200 guests.
Following government grant cuts and increased local need, corps members recalled the practice of gleaning, noting, Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest….you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger (Lev. 19:9-10).
Santa Maria is a farming community, where discussions about livestock and field rotation are part of everyday conversation. The Santa Maria High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) even support the Army, and Corps Officer Lt. Paul Swain was once a FFA member.
A week after the board challenge, Henri Ardantz, long-time board member, contacted Swain. He intended to purchase livestock at the upcoming annual county fair auction and donate it to the Army. We spent the next few weeks in conversations regarding the 1,700-pound steer and how to best provide large cuts to feed a multitude.
News of Ardantz’s gift spread, and the corps received a donated hog as well.
Three local entities—Main Street Produce, Santa Ynez Veggie Rescue and Fred Keller, Jr.—now support the soup kitchen and social services pantry.
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