Local conservation center and food bank program to receive $2,500 each, thanks to local farm family

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • March 18, 2013
  • 366
                        
Summary: A recent contest sponsored by a national seed company resulted in the Loveday family of Strasburg being able to donate a total of $5,000 to two deserving local non-profit organizations. $5,000 will be infused into the programs of two area non-profit organizations, thanks to the efforts of the Dale, Karen, and Cole Loveday family of Strasburg. The Lovedays are a farming family, and they took the initiative to enter the America’s Farmers Grow America contest sponsored by the Monsanto Corporation. The contest allows farm families to choose a local non-profit organization to receive a $2,500 donation from the company. “When we got the call that we won, we were definitely surprised,” said Karen Loveday. The family was doubly thrilled to learn that, because of the 2012 drought conditions in Tuscarawas County and its resulting natural disaster designation, there would be an additional $2,500 available for a second charity of their choice. “Our family spends a lot of time in the summer at the Norma Johnson Conservation Center,” explained Loveday. “Our son Cole really wanted the money to go towards a cause involving animals, and since the Center has so much focus on wildlife, it was a natural choice. He was fully in agreement.” The family also chose to donate $2,500 to The Carpenter’s Cupboard, a food pantry ministry housed in the Strasburg United Methodist church. The presentation was made during the annual Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast event, held Tues., March 12, which was sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Soil and Water Conservation District. Mike Yoder, district sales manager for Stewart Seeds, made the presentation of checks to both organizations on behalf of Monsanto. “There are 1,271 counties that were in this contest, with one winner chosen in each county,” stated Yoder. “The program is about trying to help people understand the vital role farmers play in their communities. This is the 3rd year for the program.” Yoder also spoke about the American Farmers Grow Rural Education contest also sponsored by the company, in which five Ohio schools each win a $10,000 grant from Monsanto. “Last year, my own home district, Garaway, received $10,000 to put up a school greenhouse at one of the elementary buildings. The more people who sign up and register their school district, the better the district’s chance of winning.” Until April 15, school districts can be nominated to receive up to $25,000. School administrators then have until April 30 to submit their grant proposal for projects to promote math and science education. More information on the program can be found at www.americasfarmers.com/growruraleducation/ “We are so glad that the Lovedays chose the Norma Johnson Center,” said Center director Marcia Zoller. “The money will go toward renovating what we call our Red Barn, and leveling parts of the floor that are uneven and a tripping hazard, as well as replacing the big slider doors on the barn that no longer work properly. We are using that building more and more for education and outreach projects, and these funds will really help.” Londa Myers heads up The Carpenter’s Cupboard, with support from her husband, Tim. “We first distributed food in January 2009,” explained Myers. “We order the food from the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, and we also go out and buy other household and toiletry items. We feel that these are necessity items for families, too.” Myers praised the effort of her fellow volunteers in keeping the pantry open every third Tuesday of the month, from 9 to 11:30 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM. She welcomes inquiries, donations, or volunteers to call the church at 330-878-5179 or her personally at 330-401-7130. “We can’t do everything, but we give what we can. It’s wonderful the way that people have supported the food pantry,” said Myers, noting the thoughtfulness of the Loveday family in choosing her ministry organization to be recipients of the $2,500, which will be used for desperately needed refrigerators. “It’s so nice when someone is so open-hearted to do things for others.”


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