Orchard of Hope to headline improvement for the pantry
Members of the Pantry at the Church of God pray over their apple forms earlier this year. The group is currently in the midst of a monumental fundraiser that includes area individuals, groups and businesses willing to sponsor an apple tree in the new orchard that will soon be created.
For years the Pantry at the Church of God in Millersburg has been able to give to many because the community has been such a huge blessing in giving financially to help those in need.
During that time the pantry has operated out of a very small facility in the church, which itself is not very large. However, volunteers have made do with what they have, and through their efforts thousands of families have been the recipients of the compassion of many as they have received food, household items and more.
However, last year the church purchased land on state Route 60, not far from the current church location near West Holmes High School. Over seven acres of land will provide ample room for a large parking lot, the pantry building, a pavilion with a storage room, a softball field, and a pond with a gazebo and a creek.
“The whole purpose of building is to remain sustainable and to make sure we can continue to serve this community,” said Evelyn Wooten, advisory committee member. “We have been extremely blessed because we operate 100 percent on donations.”
The church is currently in the midst of a fundraising campaign through the Orchard of Hope project.
Orchard of Hope is the pantry’s vision to create an apple orchard that will provide it with another mission-oriented opportunity. During people’s year-end giving, the Orchard of Hope presents an opportunity to help the community while creating a tax-free donation.
Both cash and in-kind donations to Orchard of Hope will allow donors to have a plaque posted by one of the many apple trees that will eventually be grown in the orchard on the new property.
“We know it will take several years for the apple trees to mature, but when they do, it is going to be a huge blessing to a lot of people,” Wooten said.
The donations coming in will help build the new pantry campus, and Wooten said the pantry will not move forward on any projects until the funds are in place, although they would love to jump headlong into the project now.
“There is so much we can do, and our vision is so great for this new project because we know what kind of an impact it can have in our community,” Wooten said. “But we want to be fiscally responsible, and despite wanting to dive in, we have to wait until the funds are here before we move forward. We continue to keep growing in our faith, knowing that God will walk with us and guide us each step of the way.”
The land was paid off last year, and they had enough money to put in an access driveway, which Wooten said was exciting because any time someone sees actual development in a project like this, it is always encouraging. The architect continues to put together the architectural drawings, and that too is encouraging.
The new facility will be named the Upper Room, and Wooten said the plans to utilize every inch of the new property is part of the game plan.
The softball field, pavilion and gazebo will all be rented out throughout the year, thus creating a source of income for the pantry. The Orchard of Hope will provide fresh fruit for the ongoing BackPack Program that feeds hundreds of youth from low-income families during school months. Plus they will be able to make apple sauce, provide fresh apples and even freeze apples for their pantry clients.
In addition the back acreage will be used to grow fresh produce like green beans and corn, allowing them to provide fresh produce to their clients. They hope to get the local FFA school chapters involved with that process.
At some point the hope also is to create a community cooperative website that allows farmers and gardeners to list the fresh produce they have for sale. In turn clients can log on to find food to purchase.
“It’s about connecting local growers with the community,” Wooten said.
She added that the new building will present enough space that they will have a large kitchen area. That will enable them to introduce some of the fresh produce they receive and grow to their clients as well as teach them how to prepare it.
“Having the ability to grow our own produce and to utilize the kitchen for teaching purposes is going to be a huge advantage because it gives us healthier options for our clients,” Wooten said.
With so many options being made available to the pantry on the new campus, the possibilities and the vision are what has the organization so excited.
Wooten said she also is in the process of applying for grants, and the hope is that through year-end donations, they will be able to put in a well and septic this spring and break ground in the fall of 2018.
“We can see it coming together,” Wooten said. “I am always so amazed at how much we have accomplished in such a tiny space. I think that is why we are so in awe of creating a facility that will help us provide in such a much greater capacity.”
They also are in the process of putting together a documentary on the making of Orchard of Hope and the Upper Room facilities. Nina Rindengan is currently creating the documentary, which will be up soon on the organization’s website at www.millersburgchurchofgod.com as well as on their Facebook page.
One can see the accompanying advertisement here in The Bargain Hunter for further details of how to support the Orchard of Hope and the pantry’s vision that should enhance the organization’s ability to serve the community in so many ways.